White-necked Jacobin

The White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) is a large and attractive hummingbird that ranges from Costa Rica, Mexico south to Peru, Bolivia and south Brazil. Also resident of Trinidad, but breeding not recorded.

Other common names are Great Jacobin , Collared Hummingbird .

A rare visitor from lower elevations, but widespread inhabitant of forest, mostly at higher elevations, being seen usually at a high perch or just above the canopy.

The male jacobin is unmistakable with its white belly and tail, a white band on the nape and a dark blue hood. Females are less obvious. The speckled green underparts and white tail tips are shared with the female Green-crowned Brilliant , but that species has a white moustachial stripe and a straighter bill. Some young Andean Emerald have speckling extending across their breast, but it is never as heavy as in the jacobin. The black and white scaling on the vent of the jacobin is a good field mark.

These birds usually visit flowers of tall trees and epiphytes in Costa Rica.

External Links

• Picture of White-necked Jacobin
• Stamps