The Most Colorful Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world, with more than 300 species found in the Americas. Known for their ability to fly backward and colorful metallic feathers, hummingbirds are more common in tropical areas, with only 12 species found in the United States and Canada. The most colorful hummingbird species are found in some genera of the subfamily Trochilinae. Males are generally more colorful than females.
  1. Chrysolampis, Amazilia and Cyanophaia

    • The ruby-topaz(Chrysolampis mosquitus)male has metallic green upper parts, a glossy red head and golden-orange throat and chest. The female has bronze to green back, but lacks the bright orange and red colors. The blue-headed hummingbird (Cyanophaia bicolor) is endemic to Dominica and Martinique. Despite their names, males have their body, wings and head covered in blue to green iridiscent feathers, while females only show these colors on their heads and backs. Amazilia is a numerous genus, with about 30 species. The most colorful are Amazilia tobaci and Amazilia tzacatl, which show bright-green and copper feathers.

    Colibri and Eulampis

    • The purple-throated carib is the only species of the genus Eulampis, showing green to dark-blue metallic back, abdomen and wings and a dark purple throat and head. Also called violetears, hummingbirds of the genus Colibri total four species. The most colorful are the green violetear(Colibri thalassinus), which is found in North America, and the sparkling violetear(Colibri coruscans. Males in these species are predominantely green with a violet-to-blue patch on the side of their heads.

    Chlorostilbon and Florisuga

    • Also known as emeralds, hummingbirds of the genus Chlorostilbon are often iridescent golden-green to bluish-green, with blue tails and throats. Florisuga is a two-species genus of hummingbirds, also called jacobins. Only one species, the white-necked jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) shows colorful blue to green metallic feathers, with a complete white abdomen. The white-necked jacobin is common from Mexico to Brazil.

    Heliodoxa and Klais

    • This violet-headed hummingbird is the only species of the genus Klais, which is common in tropical Central and South America. Males have metallic bluish-green backs, green tails and intense violet-to- blue heads and throats, with white marking close to the eyes. Heliodoxa is a genus of nine species of bright-green to blue hummingbirds, often called brilliants.

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