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
VIOLET-HEADED HUMMINGBIRD – (Species Account Blog #44)
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Caprimulgiformes,
- FAMILY: Trochilidae,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Klais guimeti
Tiny compact hummingbird. Note short straight bill and bold white spot behind eye. Male has bright violet crown and throat; female has paler bluish crown and gray throat. Often flies with its tail slightly cocked. Most often seen feeding on small purple flowers in gardens, but also found in forested areas and edges. (from Birds of the World)
OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
This was the first new species I was rewarded with upon our arrival at Rancho Naturalista on our first morning before the sun was even above the horizon. We would later see them at Arenal Observatory and at Parque Aventura San Luis..
PHOTO GALLERY
View the five 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 