Band-tailed Barbthroat (Threnetes ruckeri ventosus)
25 January 2009, Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica
Males and female are similar in this species which was relatively uncommon
at the feeders. I never had one to sit still long enough for a photo, so
make do with this flight shot.
This species is actually a kind of "Hermit" hummingbird and the males
sometimes form leks in which a group gather at a site to compete with each
other for females by singing.
Although placed in the genus Threnetes, the validity of this genus has been
questioned on genetic grounds and will probably be merged into Glaucis once
ongoing biochemical work is completed. This bird looks very much like
other Hermits in the genus Glaucis.
This is the northernmost race, T. r. ventosis which has a brighter orange
chest and belly coloration (visible here) compared to other races in South
America.
Panasonic DMC-LZ5 / Nikon FieldScope 3 / 30X WA hand-held (no adapter)