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
RUFOUS-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD – (Species Account Blog #54)
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Caprimulgiformes,
- FAMILY: Trochilidae,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Amazilia tzacatl
The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) is a handsome, small/medium-size hummingbird of humid tropical lowlands. Favors forest edge, second growth, gardens in some areas. Feeds low to high and often comes to feeders. Can be difficult to distinguish from Buff-bellied Hummingbird, which favors drier habitats. Rufous-tailed has a dingier, grayish belly and more extensive rusty on the tail, which lacks the distinct fork often shown by Buff-bellied’s tail. Also compare Cinnamon Hummingbird. (from Birds of the World)
OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
My personal “Lifer” Rufous-tailed Hummingbird was near Calakmul in Campeche MX, not far from the Belize border. Since that first one, it has been the most commonly seen hummingbird in my travels through Belize, Guatemala and Costa Rica. We literally saw at least one every day and at every location in Costa Rica, from Rancho Naturalista to the Arenal Observatory and near Sarapiqui.
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 