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 SABREWING – (Species Account Blog #45)
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Caprimulgiformes,
- FAMILY: Trochilidae,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Campylopterus hemileucurus
The Violet Sabrewing is the largest species of hummingbird in Middle America. Note the very large size, thick arched bill, and big, flashy white tail corners. Male’s amazing purple plumage often looks blackish overall, but when it catches the light—wow! It occurs in montane forests from southern Mexico south to western Panama, and also is found at forest edges, in second growth forests, banana plantations, and flower gardens. The elevational range of the Violet Sabrewing is 1500-2400 m in Costa Rica, but it frequently descends to lower elevations outside of the breeding season. (from Birds of the World)
OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
What a spectacular hummingbird! The first time I saw one was in Belize at the Green Hills Butterfly Ranch and it blew my mind! In Costa Rica we saw them several times at El Toucanet Lodge in the Talamanca Highlands and at the Galeria de Colibri y Soda Cinchona.
PHOTO GALLERY
**Some of this Blog Series photos (all taken by me) may have been taken in other nearby countries.
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 
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