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
SCALY-BREASTED HUMMINGBIRD – (Species Account Blog #51)
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Caprimulgiformes,
- FAMILY: Trochilidae,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Phaeochroa cuvierii
The Scaly-breasted Hummingbird (Phaeochroa cuvierii) is a rather large, dull-plumaged hummingbird of humid tropical lowlands. Favors forest edge and adjacent clearings with trees, flowering bushes, and gardens. Best field marks are its large size and big white tail corners. Sexes look alike: dull greenish overall with medium-length, straightish black bill, dingy buffy belly, and white spot behind eye (like many hummingbirds). Breast is vaguely mottled and not obviously scaly. (from Birds of the World)
OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
My “Lifer” Scaly-breasted Hummingbird was at the Green Hills Butterfly Ranch in Belize, but we saw this species multiple times in the Punta Leona area near Carara NP and again at the Arenal Observatory Lodge Area in Alajuela.
PHOTO GALLERY
**Some of this Blog Series photos (all taken by me) 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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