Talamanca Hummingbird Eugenes spectabilis

Talamanca Hummingbird is a large, long-billed hummingbird that occurs in the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama; this species is not restricted to the Cordillera de Talamanca, of Costa Rica, but the Talamancas occupy a major portion of the range of the species. A related species, Rivoli's Hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens), is found from the southwestern United States south to northern Nicaragua; these two formerly were classified as a single species, Magnificent Hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens). Talamanca Hummingbird is found in montane oak forests and forest edges, and in adjacent second growth. It generally is resident, but occasionally some individuals move to lower elevations; these movements perhaps represent a regular migration. Both sexes are primarily green above, with a prominent white postocular spot. The male also has a glittering violet forecrown. The sexes have strikingly different patterns on the underparts. The male has a glittering bluish green gorget and a dark green breast, whereas the female is uniformly grayish white below. Although this species is large and is fairly common, its natural history is not well known.