Talamanca Hummingbird

The Talamanca Hummingbird (Eugenes spectabilis) is very large for a hummingbird; size alone separates from many other species. Distinctive in range. Males are green overall; head appears black until it hits the light and reveals an iridescent purple crown and turquoise throat. Females duller with fuzzy mottled appearance on grayish underparts and some greenish on sides. Note the large white spot behind the eye that trails into a messy eyeline. Females have a longer and slightly more decurved bill than males. Used to be called Magnificent Hummingbird, but recently split into Rivoli’s Hummingbird (from southwest U.S. to Nicaragua) and Talamanca Hummingbird (found in mossy cloud forest in Costa Rica and Panama). Fairly common; visits hummingbird feeders.