Garden emerald

The garden emerald is a small hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama.

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Distribution

Region

Central America

Typical Environment

Occurs from lowlands to foothills on both Pacific and Caribbean slopes of Costa Rica and into western Panama (notably Chiriquí). It favors semi-open habitats including gardens, second growth, forest edges, and shade coffee or cacao plantations. The species frequently forages in suburban and rural areas with abundant flowering plants. Local movements may track blooming cycles but it generally remains within the region.

Altitude Range

0–1500 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size7–9 cm

Wing Span9–11 cm

Male Weight0.0032 kg

Female Weight0.0028 kg

Life Expectancy5 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The garden emerald is a tiny hummingbird that readily visits flowering shrubs in gardens, forest edges, and plantations. Males are a brilliant emerald-green with a dusky bluish tail, while females are paler below with white tail tips and a small post-ocular spot. It is endemic to southern Central America, occurring in Costa Rica and western Panama. Like other hummingbirds, it plays an important role in pollination while also gleaning small insects for protein.

Gallery

Male in flight, Panama

Behaviour

Temperament

territorial and active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering

Social Behavior

Typically solitary when foraging and strongly defends rich nectar sources from other hummingbirds. Courtship involves aerial chases and displays by the male. The female builds a small cup nest of plant down and spider silk on a low horizontal branch and raises the young alone.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Mostly high, thin chips and rapid, metallic tiks delivered while foraging or perching. At times gives a brief, buzzy twitter during aggressive encounters.

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Identification

Leg Colorblackish-grey

Eye Colordark brown

Plumage

Male is glittering emerald-green with a slightly forked, dusky bluish tail; female has green upperparts, grayish-white underparts, and white-tipped tail feathers.

Feeding Habits

Diet

Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering shrubs, vines, and trees such as Hamelia, Inga, and Heliconia. Also hawks or gleans small insects and spiders to obtain protein, especially during breeding. It frequently follows flowering cycles and may exploit ornamental garden plants.

Preferred Environment

Forages along forest edges, second growth, gardens, and agroforestry systems where flowers are abundant. Often visits hedgerows and sunlit clearings with scattered blossoms.

Population

Total Known Populationunknown

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