The green-crowned brilliant is species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama. It is also known as the green-fronted brilliant.
Region
Central America and Western Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs from southern Central America (Costa Rica and western Panama) south along the western Andean foothills of Colombia into northwestern Ecuador. It favors humid evergreen and cloud forest edges, clearings with scattered trees, secondary growth, and shaded gardens near forest. Often found along streams and in areas rich in epiphytes where tubular flowers are abundant. Common around human settlements with nectar feeders within its elevational range.
Altitude Range
300–2200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A large, assertive hummingbird of humid foothill and montane forests, the green-crowned brilliant often dominates flowering patches and backyard feeders. Males are notably territorial and perform rapid chases to defend nectar sources. It is also known as the green-fronted brilliant and readily visits gardens near forest. Females handle all nest building and chick rearing.
Temperament
territorial and assertive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering
Social Behavior
Typically solitary away from feeders, where it aggressively defends nectar sources against other hummingbirds. Courtship involves aerial chases and display flights; mating is promiscuous. The female builds a small cup nest of plant fibers bound with spider silk, usually on a sheltered branch or over a stream, and incubates two white eggs.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are sharp, high-pitched chips and thin tseet notes, often given in rapid series during territorial encounters. Wing hum is strong and audible at close range; males may add buzzy chatters when displaying.
Plumage
Male shows glittering green crown, throat, and breast with bronzy-green upperparts and darker tail; female has green upperparts with whitish underparts heavily spotted or scalloped with green. Both sexes show a distinct white post-ocular spot and a slightly notched, dark tail. Feathers are iridescent, giving a brilliant sheen in good light.
Diet
Feeds primarily on nectar from tubular flowers such as Heliconia, Besleria, and various epiphytes, probing repeatedly and defending rich patches. Supplements energy intake by catching small arthropods, hawking them in midair or gleaning from foliage. Frequent visitor to artificial feeders where present.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest edges, clearings, and riparian corridors, typically from the understory to midstory. Also uses semi-open gardens and shade-grown plantations adjacent to forest.
