Black-crested Coquette

About the Black-crested Coquette

The black-crested coquette (Lophornis helenae) is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. The black-crested coquette was originally described as Ornismya helenae. Later it and the white-crested coquette (Lophornis adorabilis) were placed in genus Paphosia. The black-crested coquette is monotypic.

The black-crested coquette is 6.3 to 7.7 cm (2.5 to 3.0 in) long with an average weight of 2.6 to 2.8 g (0.092 to 0.099 oz). The adult male has a dark metallic green crown with a wispy greenish black crest. The nape and back are metallic bronze green; a white band separates the back from the sooty blackish rump and uppertail coverts. The central tail feathers are dull greenish bronze between their cinnamon rufous bases and dusky ends. The outer tail feathers are cinnamon rufous. The chin and upper throat are metallic yellowish green with a velvety black band below. The sides of the throat have tufts of buff feathers with velvety black margins. The breast is metallic bronze, the belly and flanks white with metallic bronze... Wikipedia →