- Microchera albocoronata
Identification
2½ inches.
Male mostly reddish brown with white crown (down to just above eyes) and white on went and outer tail feathers.
Female green above, grayish white below, with most of tail white with dark subterminal band rather broad.
Similar Species
Photo © by Stanley Jones
Tapir Valley Reserve, Bijagua de Upala, Alajuela Province,Costa Rica, July 2023
Female of Coppery-headed Emerald is quite similar to the female Snowcap, but with greenish spots below the eye and on the neck, and with a narrower, less conspicuous dark band on the tail. Of course, the bill if seen well will be conclusive, straight on Snowcap and decurved on the emerald. Snowcap__Costa_Rica_SJ.jpg
Distribution
Local in distribution from Honduras to western Panama.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized[1]:
- M. a. parvirostris
- Honduras to Costa Rica, limited to the Caribbean Slope
- M. a. albocoronata
- Western part of Panama, found on both slopes
Habitat
Foothills and mountains, mostly along borders and openings in humid forest. Some birds occur lower outside breeding season.
Behaviour
This tiny jewel is hard to photograph because it stays in the shade and darts in to the feeders for quick drinks, without lingering.
Diet
Forages from low to mid levels, mostly on small flowers.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- ID features of females were discussed in comments to this image
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Snowcap. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 5 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Snowcap
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
