White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga Mellivora

eBird describes the White-necked Jacobin like this:  Rather large, spectacular hummingbird of humid tropical lowlands that favors forest edges, adjacent clearings with scattered trees and flowering bushes, and gardens. Feeds at all levels, often in the canopy, hovering with its tail cocked and occasionally opening it to show extensive white. Male has deep blue hood, green upperparts with white collar (often hard to see), white underparts, and mostly white tail. Some females look similar to males while others look very different, with dark spotting below and a mostly green tail with white tips.

The Birds of the World site gives this introductory information about the White-necked Jacobin:  A uniquely-patterned, medium-sized hummingbird, the adult male White-necked Jacobin has a blue head and chest, a sharply contrasting white nape, a green back and blackish wings. The White-necked Jacobin can be found in a variety of habitats from humid forest canopies, to tall second growth forests,  and even in coffee and cacao plantations. White-necked Jacobin can be found within its broad range feeding on nectar and small arthropods; occasionally, many will concentrate at flowering trees where they are aggressive and even territorial to one another. Although uncommon throughout most of its large range, the White-necked Jacobin’s population is believed to be stable, and consequently has not been placed on any threatened species lists.

I saw my first White-necked Jacobin on Sunday, February 5th at Donde Copé northeast of San Jose, Costa Rica.  This spectacular bird was not shy about coming to the hummingbird feeders and was definitely one of the stars of the show that day!  To see my blog post of the trip that included my visited to Donde Copé, look here.