Frilled Coquette

About the Frilled Coquette

The frilled coquette (Lophornis magnificus) is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Brazil. The frilled coquette's genus name derives from the Greek words "lophos λοφος"meaning "crest, tuft, forelock" and "ornis ορνις", " meaning bird. The species name "magnificus" is the Latin word for "magnificent, splendid".

The frilled coquette is monotypic. The frilled coquette is one of the smallest birds alive. It is 7.1 to 7.7 cm (2.8 to 3.0 in) long and weighs an average of 2.66 g (0.094 oz). Both sexes have a short, straight, black-tipped red bill and bronzy green upperparts with a white band across the rump. Adult males of this striking bird have a long, rufous-orange erectile crest and green and white fan-shaped cheek feathers. Its forehead and throat are iridescent green and the rest of the underparts grayish green. Its central tail feathers are bronzy green and the rest rufous with bronzy green tips and edges. The adult female does not have the male's crest or cheek tufts. It has a whitish throat with rufous discs and dark crescents. It underparts are grayish green like the... Wikipedia →