Hummingbirds of Costa Rica Hummingbirds of Panama Panama birds

Some Amazing Hummingbirds from Costa Rica and Panama

Costa Rica and Panama might be small countries but both harbor an incredible degree of biodiversity. Birds are especially diverse, and both Costa Rica and Panama have lists of more than 900 species each.

Yes, that many, and hummingbirds make up several of the species on those lists. Literally dozens of hummingbird species zip around tropical forests and visit feeders, including the following ten beauties:

White-necked Jacobin: This green, blue, and white stunner is fairly common at many rainforest sites in both countries.

White-necked Jacobin.
White-necked Jacobin

Snowcap: Few bird species have burgundy and bright white plumage like the male Snowcap. In Costa Rica, look for this local species at such foothill sites as Rancho Naturalista, El Copal, and El Tapir.

Snowcap
Snowcap

Blue-chested Hummingbird: Although this hummingbird species often looks dull, catch it in the right light and it has a beautiful blue and green sheen on the head and neck.

Blue-chested Hummingbird 2
Male Blue-chested Hummingbird. This image was taken by Josh Beck. Read about Josh and Kathi’s amazing birding adventures at the Birds of Passage  blog.

Fiery-throated Hummingbird: This larger, dark green hummingbird is only found in high elevation habitats of Costa Rica and Panama. It’s one of the more common hummingbirds at Poas Volcano, Irazu Volcano, Volcan Baru, and on Cerro de la Muerte. It usually looks dull but when the light hits its throat at the right angle, this hummingbird glows with color.

Fiery-throated Hummingbird.
Fiery-throated Hummingbird

Purple-throated Mountain-Gem: Visit Monteverde and other cloud forest sites in Costa Rica and you will probably see this beautiful hummingbird. It also occurs in western Panama.

Male Purple-throated Mountain-gem
Male Purple-throated Mountain-gem
Female Purple-throated Mountain-gem
Female Purple-throated Mountain-gem

Violet Sabrewing: A big, purple hummingbird is always impressive. Happily, this one is also fairly common at most middle elevation sites, and a common visitor to feeders.

Violet Sabrewing
Violet Sabrewing

Crowned Woodnymph: Hummingbirds can have poetic names and this one is no exception. This is also one of the most common hummingbird species in lowland and foothill rainforests.

Crowned Woodnymph
Crowned Woodnymph

Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer: This large dark green hummingbird with the red feet is fairly common in lowland and foothill rainforests.

Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer
Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer

Green Thorntail: One of the more elegant hummingbird species, the thorntail is often seen at Porterweed bushes in the foothills and middle elevations.

Green Thorntail
Green Thorntail

Green Hermit: This is the common hermit species of middle elevation forests. Like other hermits, it feeds on Heliconias and the flowers of other understory plants suited to its curved beak.

Green Hermit
Green Hermit

Learn about these and the other hummingbird species of Costa Rica and Panama with our birding apps.

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