The white-necked jacobin is a medium-sized hummingbird that ranges from Mexico south through Central America and northern South America into Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia. It is also found in Trinidad and Tobago. Its other common names include great jacobin and collared hummingbird.
Region
Mesoamerica and northern South America
Typical Environment
Occurs from southern Mexico through Central America into Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, and broadly across the Amazon and adjacent regions of Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia; also present on Trinidad and Tobago. Prefers humid lowland and foothill forests, edges, clearings, second growth, plantations, and flowering gardens. Often forages in the forest canopy but also uses midstory and edges where flowers are abundant. Common around human habitation where nectar sources and feeders are available.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The white-necked jacobin is a medium-sized hummingbird ranging from southern Mexico through Central America and across much of northern South America, also occurring on Trinidad and Tobago. Males are striking with a blue head, white neck and belly, and mostly white tail, while females are highly variable and often mottled. It frequents forest edges, gardens, and clearings, and readily visits feeders. Despite its small size, it can be quite assertive at flowering trees and feeders.
Nest, in Colombia
Immature male begging for food from its mother
Temperament
active and assertive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering
Social Behavior
Generally solitary while feeding and often dominant at rich nectar sources, displacing smaller hummingbirds. Nests are tiny cups attached to horizontal branches, often over open areas or water, constructed with plant down and spider silk. Courtship involves aerial chasing and display flights near flowering trees.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are high, thin chips and short, buzzy trills given intermittently while foraging. Wing hum is prominent at close range, and calls may accelerate during aggressive chases.
Plumage
Male with glossy blue head and throat, bright white nape collar and underparts, green upperparts, and mostly white tail with a dark subterminal band; female highly variable with mottled or scaly underparts, green upperparts, and a more extensively banded tail.
Diet
Feeds primarily on nectar from a wide variety of tubular flowers, including forest trees, epiphytes, and garden ornamentals. Supplements nectar with small arthropods captured by hawking or gleaning from foliage, which provides essential protein. Often forages methodically along a route, revisiting flowering trees and shrubs, and readily uses hummingbird feeders.
Preferred Environment
Most often feeds at forest edges, clearings, and secondary growth where flowering plants are concentrated. Frequently works the canopy and subcanopy but will descend to gardens and hedgerows when blooms are abundant.
