Diet and Foraging

Magnificent Hummingbird is nectarivorous, feeding on nectar from plant species such as Passiflora membranacea, Tillandsia vicentina, and Cirsium subcoriaceum at the Huitepec Ecological Reserve in highlands of Chiapas (Partida 2011). P. membranacea was the most important species in Huitepec Reserve during June for the community of hummingbirds. This plant was visited by four species of hummingbirds.  Magnificent Hummingbirds had to compete with individuals of their own species for the nectar of this flower, as well as with species such as Amethyst-throated Hummingbird (Lampornis amethystinus) and Garnet-throated Hummingbird (Lamprolaima rhami) and, occasionally, with White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis). At this site Magnificent Hummingbird established territories and defended the use of nectar in flower patches, and its abundance was correlated with the phenology of P. membranacea (Partida-Lara et al. 2012). Other nectar sources for Magnificent Hummingbird include species such as Agave americana, A. parrayi, Bomarea costaricensis, Centropon talamanensis, Erythrina corallodendrum, Fuchsia splendens and Lobelia laxifolia (Schuchmann 1999). In breeding season males defend territories where giant thistle (Cirsium) is numerous, and also they ascend to the canopy to visit flowers of epiphytes (Ericaceae) and vines (Passiflora). Females visit flowers of Centropogon, and both sexes visit flower such as Fuchsia and Cestrum (Stiles and Skutch 1989). Magnificent Hummingbirds also feed on arthropods from orders of Hymenoptera, Homoptera, Diptera and Araneae, which mostly are captured in flight (Powers et al. 2010).