Snowcap Hummingbird
The Snowcap is one of Costa Rica’s most enchanting and sought-after hummingbirds, famed for its striking contrast of colors and tiny, jewel-like form. Measuring only 6.5–7.5 cm, this diminutive species is among the smallest hummingbirds in Central America.
Adult males are unmistakable: they display a brilliant, pure white cap that shines like a drop of snow, set atop a body of deep wine-purple to iridescent reddish-violet plumage. Their tail is short and slightly rounded, often showing dark purplish tones in flight. Females, in contrast, lack the dramatic white cap. They appear mostly bronze-green above with grayish underparts, and have a tail marked with white tips—delicate but subtly distinctive.
Snowcaps inhabit premontane and Caribbean-slope foothill forests in Costa Rica, most commonly between 300 and 900 meters in elevation. They favor forest edges, clearings, and areas rich in flowering plants—especially openings filled with vervain (Stachytarpheta) and other small tubular blossoms. Though often quiet, males can be seen perching conspicuously while defending small nectar territories.
Their flight is quick, nimble, and agile, with a distinctive light bumblebee-like buzz. Like other hummingbirds, Snowcaps feed primarily on nectar, complemented by tiny insects for protein.
Due to their small size, beautiful coloration, and limited range, Snowcaps are a bucket-list species for birders visiting Costa Rica—an unforgettable highlight of the country’s glittering hummingbird diversity.
The Snowcap is one of Costa Rica’s most enchanting and sought-after hummingbirds, famed for its striking contrast of colors and tiny, jewel-like form. Measuring only 6.5–7.5 cm, this diminutive species is among the smallest hummingbirds in Central America.
Adult males are unmistakable: they display a brilliant, pure white cap that shines like a drop of snow, set atop a body of deep wine-purple to iridescent reddish-violet plumage. Their tail is short and slightly rounded, often showing dark purplish tones in flight. Females, in contrast, lack the dramatic white cap. They appear mostly bronze-green above with grayish underparts, and have a tail marked with white tips—delicate but subtly distinctive.
Snowcaps inhabit premontane and Caribbean-slope foothill forests in Costa Rica, most commonly between 300 and 900 meters in elevation. They favor forest edges, clearings, and areas rich in flowering plants—especially openings filled with vervain (Stachytarpheta) and other small tubular blossoms. Though often quiet, males can be seen perching conspicuously while defending small nectar territories.
Their flight is quick, nimble, and agile, with a distinctive light bumblebee-like buzz. Like other hummingbirds, Snowcaps feed primarily on nectar, complemented by tiny insects for protein.
Due to their small size, beautiful coloration, and limited range, Snowcaps are a bucket-list species for birders visiting Costa Rica—an unforgettable highlight of the country’s glittering hummingbird diversity.