Introduction
The Tufted Coquette (Lophornis ornatus) is a tiny hummingbird of northern South America and Trinidad. It is best known for the male’s vivid rufous crest, ornamental cheek plumes and iridescent green plumage. Although small and easily overlooked, it is a distinctive bird of forest edges, open country, gardens and cultivated areas.
Physical Description
The Tufted Coquette is about 6.6 cm long and weighs approximately 2.3 g. It has a short, straight bill that is reddish with a dark or black tip.
Adult males are unmistakable when seen well. They have a rufous-orange crest, a coppery-green back, a prominent whitish band across the rump and golden-rufous tail feathers. The forehead and underparts are green, while elongated rufous cheek and neck plumes, often tipped or spotted with darker and iridescent feathers, frame the face and throat.
Females lack the male’s crest and cheek plumes. They are predominantly green above, with a pale to whitish belly, rufous or buff colouring on the lower underparts, and the characteristic pale rump band. Their more subdued appearance can make them difficult to identify unless the small size, short bill and rump band are clearly seen.
Immature males resemble females at first. As they mature, the crest, cheek plumes and stronger male colouration develop gradually.
Range and Habitat
The species occurs from eastern Venezuela through Trinidad and the Guianas, including Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, into northern Brazil. It is not generally regarded as a Tobago species.
Tufted Coquettes use rainforest edges, secondary growth, open woodland, gardens, plantations and other flower-rich habitats. They are often associated with places where flowering shrubs, trees and epiphytes provide a regular nectar supply. The species is widespread but can be locally uncommon, and its movements are not fully understood. Some populations appear to make local or seasonal movements in response to flowering conditions.
Where to See This Species
Asa Wright Nature Centre, Arima Valley, Trinidad and Tobago
The Asa Wright Nature Centre is a recognised birdwatching venue in Trinidad’s Northern Range, where forest, garden and forest-edge habitats support a diverse hummingbird community. Tufted Coquette is documented on the centre’s bird checklist, making it a realistic place to search for the species among flowering plants and along the established trails. Visitor access should be arranged through the centre before travelling.
Nearby accommodation: The centre itself has historically provided visitor lodging, while Arima and nearby settlements offer guest houses, hotels and other practical accommodation.
Kaieteur National Park, Potaro-Siparuni, Guyana
Kaieteur National Park protects extensive rainforest, riverine habitats and open areas around the Kaieteur plateau. Tufted Coquette has been recorded at the Kaieteur Falls area, where visitors can search forest edges and flowering vegetation during an authorised park visit. Access is open to visitors through approved arrangements, and travel is normally organised as part of a guided trip.
Nearby accommodation: Georgetown is the main practical base for arranging flights and guided visits, with hotels and guest houses available before or after the park excursion.
Behaviour and Diet
Tufted Coquettes are active during the day and are usually encountered singly while moving rapidly between flowers. Their steady hovering flight and very small size can make them look more like a large bee than a bird at a distance.
Nectar provides most of their energy. They visit a variety of flowering plants and may defend productive feeding areas from other hummingbirds. Small insects and other invertebrates supplement the diet, supplying protein and other nutrients that nectar alone cannot provide.
Courtship is performed mainly by the male. Displays involve hovering, short aerial movements and the raising or presentation of the crest and cheek plumes. The female is responsible for nest construction, incubation and care of the young. She usually lays two eggs in a small cup-shaped nest made from plant fibres and other soft materials, often attached to a slender branch. Incubation lasts about two weeks, and young birds generally leave the nest after roughly three weeks, although the timing varies with local conditions.
Identification Tips
- Look for an exceptionally small hummingbird, only about 6.6 cm long.
- In adult males, the rufous-orange crest and projecting cheek plumes are the most distinctive features.
- A whitish band across the rump is visible in both sexes and is particularly useful when the bird is seen in flight.
- The male combines a coppery-green back, green underparts, rufous head ornaments and a golden-rufous tail.
- Females are much plainer. Confirm the identification by combining their tiny size, short straight bill, pale rump band and rufous or buff lower plumage.
- Search patiently around flowering shrubs, forest margins, gardens and plantations. The species may pause on a small exposed perch before making a short flight to another flower.
Conservation Status
The Tufted Coquette is currently assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. No reliable global population estimate is available, and the species is not considered to be at immediate risk of extinction.
Habitat loss, deforestation, agricultural expansion and poorly managed development can reduce forest-edge and flower-rich habitats in parts of its range. The species’ ability to use gardens, plantations and other modified habitats may provide some resilience, but conserving native vegetation and maintaining a varied supply of flowering plants remain important. Further monitoring would help clarify local population changes and seasonal movements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Tufted Coquette live?
It occurs in eastern Venezuela, Trinidad, the Guianas and northern Brazil. It uses forest edges, secondary growth, gardens, plantations and other semi-open habitats with flowering plants.
How small is the Tufted Coquette?
It is about 6.6 cm long and weighs approximately 2.3 g, making it one of the smallest hummingbirds in its range.
How can you identify a male Tufted Coquette?
The adult male has a rufous-orange crest, ornate cheek plumes, a coppery-green back, green underparts, a pale rump band and a golden-rufous tail.
What does the Tufted Coquette eat?
It feeds mainly on flower nectar and also takes small insects and other invertebrates. The animal prey provides important protein and nutrients.
Is the Tufted Coquette migratory?
Its movements are not fully understood. It is generally treated as resident or locally mobile, with some seasonal movements probably linked to flowering conditions.
What is the conservation status of the Tufted Coquette?
The species is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Local populations may still be affected by habitat loss, agricultural expansion and changes to flower-rich habitats.
References
- BirdLife International
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Birds of the World
- Protected Areas Commission Guyana
Related posts
