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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Nightjars, Swifts, Hummingbirds, and Allies (Order Caprimulgiformes)

-Hummingbirds (Family Trochilidae)

-Genus Cynanthus

-Golden-crowned Emerald (Cynanthus auriceps)


The Golden-crowned Emerald Hummingbird is an exquisite species found in the coniferous forests of western North America. Its range extends from Alaska to Mexico, and it is particularly fond of the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest. The hummingbird's diet consists of small insects, nectar, and sap, which it collects with its long, slender bill. It has an energetic and inquisitive behavior that makes it a delight to observe.

Golden-crowned Emerald

Cynanthus auriceps

Diet

  • Primarily nectar from flowering trees, shrubs, vines, and epiphytic plants.

  • Supplements its diet with small insects and spiders, especially during the breeding season.

  • Feeds by hovering at flowers and also captures tiny flying insects in mid-air.

Range

  • Endemic to western Mexico, occurring along the Pacific slope from southern Sinaloa south through Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Oaxaca.

  • Common in the Zihuatanejo region, where it is a year-round resident.

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, thorn forests, woodland edges, second-growth, gardens, and flowering scrub, generally from sea level to about 1,800 m.

Male / Female

  • Male: Brilliant metallic green body with a distinctive golden-yellow crown, iridescent blue throat, and a deeply forked bluish tail.

  • Female: Green upperparts with pale greyish-white underparts, a much duller or absent golden crown, and white tips on the outer tail feathers.

  • The sexes are readily distinguished by the male's bright golden crown and vivid blue throat.

Size

  • Length: 9–10 cm (3.5–4.0 in)

  • Wingspan: 11–13 cm (4.3–5.1 in)

  • Weight: 3–5 g

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