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
STRIPE-THROATED HERMIT – (Species Account Blog #27)
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Caprimulgiformes,
- FAMILY: Trochilidae,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Phaethornis striigularis
The noticeably loud wingbeats of this tiny hermit often alert you to its presence before you see it. Males also sing together at leks for much of the year—frequently for 10-15 minutes at a time—making them easier to locate. Stripe-throated Hermits are commonly found in the understory of a variety of humid habitats and fly in repeated circuits to feed on the nectar of scattered flowers. In both Costa Rica and Panama, some individuals nectar rob from the base of Scutellaria or Pavonia flowers. (from Birds of the World)
OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
Found more often in mid-elevations and lowlands, this species ranges from Mexico to Peru. I first observed it in Quintana Roo, MX, and then in Belize and again in Guatemala, all sightings with NO PHOTOGRAPHS. Finally, at Rancho Naturalista in Costa Rica I was able to snap a few images of one as it fed on the heliconias.
PHOTO GALLERY
BIRDS & BIRDING IN COSTA RICA WEBSITE LINK: Stripe-throated Hermit
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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