Birds
Green-crowned Brilliant
Heliodoxa jacula
Flashing an iridescent green crown as it moves between flowers, a green-crowned brilliant visits a wide variety of blooms across Central American and Andean cloud forest, females identified by a distinctive white stripe below the eye.
Overview
The green-crowned brilliant, Heliodoxa jacula, is a Least Concern hummingbird found across cloud forest from Costa Rica through Panama into Colombia and Ecuador. Its relatively large size among hummingbirds, iridescent green crown, and the female’s distinctive white facial stripe make it one of the more readily identifiable hummingbird species within its cloud forest range.
A generalist among specialists
While some hummingbird species rely heavily on a narrow set of flower shapes, the green-crowned brilliant visits a broad variety of blooms across forest understory and edge habitat, a flexible feeding strategy that suits its relatively large size and strength.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable cloud forest habitat throughout its range from Central America into northern South America.
Green-crowned Brilliant: common questions
How can you tell a female green-crowned brilliant from a male?
Females show a distinctive white stripe below the eye, a feature males lack, along with generally duller plumage compared to the male's bright iridescent green crown.
Is the green-crowned brilliant a large hummingbird?
It is relatively large compared to many hummingbird species sharing its cloud forest habitat, though still small compared to birds outside the hummingbird family.
What does the green-crowned brilliant eat?
It is an omnivore, feeding on flower nectar from a wide variety of plants, supplemented with small insects caught in flight.
Where is the green-crowned brilliant found?
It ranges across cloud forest from Costa Rica through Panama into Colombia and Ecuador.