Plain-capped Starthroat Heliomaster constantii

These large, aggressive hummingbirds are fairly drab in color but have impressively long, straight bills. Males and females are similar and each have a white stripe below and behind the eye, a pinkish or orangish red throat, a short tail, and a white stripe on the rump. Plain-capped Starthroats live around the borders of arid or semiarid forests, in thorn forests, coffee plantations, second growth, and in partially open areas with scattered vegetation. They gather nectar from long tubular flowers and often flytcatch high in the air. In northern parts of this starthroat’s range, individuals migrate from October to November and in February; local movements are also common depending on the timing of flowering.