Introduction
The Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird (Cynanthus doubledayi), also known as Doubleday’s Hummingbird, is a small hummingbird endemic to Mexico. It is associated mainly with dry Pacific-slope habitats in southern Mexico and is recognised as a separate species by major contemporary taxonomic authorities. Its vivid male plumage and restricted national range make it a notable bird of Mexico’s coastal lowlands.
Physical Description
This small hummingbird measures approximately 9–10 cm in length. It has a straight bill, metallic green upperparts and a moderately forked, dark tail.
Adult males are distinctive. The forehead and crown show bright turquoise or blue-green iridescence, while the throat and upper breast are deep violet-blue to cobalt-blue. The underparts are generally greener or bluer than those of the Broad-billed Hummingbird, and the undertail coverts are dark.
Females are less brightly coloured, with green upperparts, pale greyish or grey-buff underparts and a darker, forked tail. They lack the male’s brilliant turquoise crown and strongly coloured throat. Immature birds are generally duller and may show less developed iridescence until they acquire adult plumage.
Iridescent colours can change noticeably with the angle of the light, so a male may appear mainly green in shade but flash turquoise or deep blue in direct sunlight.
Range and Habitat
The Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird is endemic to Mexico. Its current range is concentrated along the Pacific lowlands and lower slopes of southern Guerrero, Oaxaca and western Chiapas. It is resident rather than migratory.
It occurs from near sea level to approximately 2,100 metres, although local records may vary. Preferred habitats include tropical deciduous forest, dry forest, thorn forest, gallery forest, shrubland, forest edges and secondary vegetation. It may also use semi-open areas with scattered trees and flowering shrubs.
The species is often associated with a mosaic of vegetation rather than continuous closed forest. Flowering plants provide nectar, while shrubs, trees and riparian vegetation offer perches, cover and potential nesting sites.
Where to See This Species
Huatulco National Park, Oaxaca, Mexico
Huatulco National Park contains tropical dry forest, coastal scrub, gallery vegetation and other habitats used by the species. Official protected-area information lists the Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird among the park’s resident birds. Look around flowering vegetation, forest edges and wooded areas, particularly where dry forest meets more open coastal habitat.
Nearby accommodation: Santa Cruz Huatulco, La Crucecita and the wider Bahías de Huatulco area provide hotels, guest houses, apartments and other visitor accommodation.
Vicente Guerrero National Park, Guerrero, Mexico
The park, in the municipality of Zihuatanejo de Azueta, protects mangrove, coastal wetland and tropical forest habitats. Its official species inventory includes the Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird as a resident bird. The park’s ecological cycleway and other accessible habitats provide opportunities to search for hummingbirds near flowering plants and woodland margins.
Nearby accommodation: Ixtapa is the closest practical base, with hotels, resorts and self-catering accommodation. Zihuatanejo provides a wider range of guest houses, hotels and other visitor services.
Santuario Playa Tierra Colorada, Guerrero, Mexico
This coastal sanctuary supports dry lowland vegetation and records the Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird as a resident endemic species. It is a realistic site for searching in scrub, forest margins and other terrestrial vegetation around the protected coastal landscape. Bird activity may be greatest where flowering plants and sheltered vegetation occur.
Nearby accommodation: The nearby towns of Tierra Colorada, Marquelia and other coastal settlements provide small hotels, guest houses and basic self-catering options, while larger accommodation choices are available farther along the Guerrero coast.
Behaviour and Diet
The Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird is active during daylight and spends much of the day moving between flowering plants. Like other hummingbirds, it hovers while feeding and can make rapid changes of direction in flight.
Its diet consists mainly of nectar from flowering trees, shrubs and other plants. It also takes small insects and spiders, which provide protein and other nutrients. Arthropods may be caught in the air or gleaned from foliage.
Individuals are usually solitary outside the breeding period. They may defend productive flower patches or feeding territories by chasing other hummingbirds and intruders. The species is resident, so seasonal movements are more likely to reflect local flowering conditions than long-distance migration.
As it visits flowers, the bird transfers pollen between plants and contributes to pollination in the dry-forest and shrubland communities where it occurs.
Identification Tips
- Look for a small, green hummingbird with a moderately forked dark tail.
- Adult males show a bright turquoise or blue-green forehead and crown.
- The male’s throat and upper breast are strongly blue or violet-blue, especially in good light.
- Females are plainer, with pale greyish underparts and less iridescence.
- The species is generally associated with dry forest, thorn scrub, forest edge and semi-open coastal vegetation in southern Mexico.
- Compared with the Broad-billed Hummingbird, the adult male Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird usually has a bluer crown, more extensive blue below and darker undertail coverts. Females can be difficult to separate in the field, so location, habitat and close attention to tail and underpart pattern are important.
Conservation Status
The Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Its population size has not been quantified, but the available assessment indicates a stable population trend and a range large enough not to meet the thresholds for a threatened category.
The main potential pressures are habitat loss and degradation caused by agricultural expansion, urban development and changes to dry-forest vegetation. Altered flowering patterns and more frequent droughts could also affect local food availability, although the scale of these effects is not yet well quantified.
Protecting remaining dry forest, thorn scrub, gallery vegetation and coastal habitat is important. Maintaining native flowering plants and ecological links between protected areas can help provide feeding and nesting habitat across the species’ range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird found?
It is endemic to Mexico and occurs mainly in southern Guerrero, Oaxaca and western Chiapas along the Pacific slope and adjacent lower mountain areas.
Is the Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird migratory?
No. It is considered a resident species, although individuals may move locally in response to flowering conditions and food availability.
What does the Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird eat?
It feeds mainly on nectar from flowering plants and supplements this diet with small insects and spiders.
How can a male Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird be identified?
The male is a small green hummingbird with a bright turquoise or blue-green crown, a strongly blue or violet-blue throat and a dark, moderately forked tail.
Where can I see this hummingbird?
Reliable protected-area locations include Huatulco National Park in Oaxaca, Vicente Guerrero National Park in Guerrero and Santuario Playa Tierra Colorada in Guerrero.
Is the Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird endangered?
It is currently classified as Least Concern. Nevertheless, protection of dry forest, thorn scrub, gallery vegetation and coastal habitats remains important because the species is endemic to Mexico.
References
- BirdLife International
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas
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