Birds & Birding in Costa Rica: – Costa Rica’s national motto and tourism slogan, “La Pura Vida” loosely translates to Live Life or Enjoy Life. With over 900 bird species recorded here, there is certainly lots to enjoy! With 12 of the world’s 18 life zones, its diverse landscapes, including tropical rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, and savannas, provide habitat for a wide range of iconic birds A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
BAND-TAILED BARBTHROAT – (Species Account Blog #24)
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Caprimulgiformes,
- FAMILY: Trochilidae,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Threnetes ruckeri
A medium-sized hermit, with an almost straight bill, the Band-tailed Barbthroat is usually found in understory of primary and disturbed forests, forest edge, dense second-growth, shrubbery, and plantations, often near rivers. The Band-tailed Barbthroat is mainly nectivorous, but will also consume arthropods, especially spiders. (from Birds of the World)
OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
Strictly a low elevation hummingbird of the South Pacific and Caribbean Lowlands in Costa Rica, this species is more likely found away from feeders at heliconias and other flowering plants. My observation of this hummingbird was due to a fortuitous need for me to step away from our tour group and step off the side of the trail briefly. It kind of startled me and as I fumbled with trying to get my camera up and it flitted away briefly, but then came right back. I initially thought it was another Stripe-throated Hermit as I couldn’t get my bins on it. I finally got it in focus while it poked around at several spider webs. I couldn’t tell if it was gathering webs for a nest or if it was hunting spiders. As I hurridly walked to catch back up to the group I realized it was a new lifer for me. All because mother nature was calling…
PHOTO GALLERY
BIRDS & BIRDING IN COSTA RICA WEBSITE LINK: Band-tailed Barbthroat
View the three most recent Birds & Birding in Costa Rica series blog posts below.
- A Streak-headed Woodcreeper Feeds its Offspring Near the Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica
- PALE-BILLED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- HOFFMANN’S WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
Reflections of the Natural World 
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