description Black-crested coquette Overview
The black-crested coquette (Lophornis helenae) is a small species of hummingbird native to the tropical and subtropical forests of Central America, ranging from southern Mexico down to Costa Rica. It exhibits strong sexual dimorphism, with the male being easily identified by its striking, spiky black crest and green plumage, while females lack the crest entirely. These birds feed primarily on nectar from small flowers and occasionally catch small insects in flight.
help Black-crested coquette FAQ
Where can you see a black-crested coquette in the wild?
The species occurs from southeastern Mexico through parts of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. It is usually sought around humid forest edges, clearings, and flowering vegetation rather than deep inside closed forest.
How can you identify a male black-crested coquette?
An adult male has an elongated greenish-black crest and conspicuous dark-tipped feather tufts around the throat. Females lack the male's dramatic crest and plumes, so the sexes can look surprisingly different.
Is the black-crested coquette the same bird as a black-crested titmouse?
No. The black-crested coquette is the tiny hummingbird Lophornis helenae, while the black-crested titmouse is a larger songbird named Baeolophus atricristatus.
When was Lophornis helenae first described?
Adolphe Delattre described the species in 1843 under the name Ornismya helenae. It is now placed in Lophornis, the genus containing the ornamental hummingbirds commonly called coquettes.
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