Where I live in Southern California I only see one species of hummingbird: the Anna's. It was crazy to go to Ecuador and find four or five species of hummingbird feeding at the same feeder.
The green-crowned brilliant, also known as green-fronted brilliant and blue-throated flying dolphin (why dolphin - I've got no clue?), is found from Costa Rica to western Ecuador. eBird records 32,247 observations and has 2,641 photos.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimde08cidYrST1o17OtoXLswQD3aQFoXwJanLCcNf3b8P70p_au8QaVgx0kRybvcRDQYSshIQkkVecYdRcogiF_iRCX5JIwteS3snaChaYHsHDhAPUqcNTSDa1sP9VCVHFsM2e05MfSQoXBzLkmqqrdt30EuFWPsnQOjHNMHmu3Kb_UxOoINoNmJnI/w320-h400/600%20Green-Crowned%20Brilliant.jpg) |
Male with an obvious violet blue throat patch. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGg18vZ_XBzKpIO0gkxapwkg1EzfFw8vXESjPzQ3-ial4-nMDfefLpf7y5zC92cwm3rvOYSZXwhbYwZmq6He5x8EpXSyBM2JMFhb3qJSFiNA8ashBTcxjEXZqRbLJoMvRpKPXHW236c5XhdDK_MG-jdewPEN4fcwxXHjfqJFgblkv75wKwX7hyKAJE/w400-h263/921.jpg) |
Female with green spotted underparts and white patch behind the eye. |
Males and females look different. The male has a violet blue throat patch, white thighs, a forked blue-black tail, a white spot behind the eye and is otherwise all very glittery green.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQpBb8ftA1X9fu3cNWUPrMsylLSqj5fxShCKqgsDV9r64miV961NF_oOr0vPeboIW2_-39RAFybnLup_co8b4EDP6pWocVS9L--bMxmyjXCXeCJT8p0Sqp2iCjN4ysg26hD9hjSjp2DltMrRVhObDidgQsvEe2YwYtfzIHBISQ4301UwiROiAP5DA/w369-h400/500%20Green-Crowned%20Brilliant.jpg) |
I only photographed males at the Milpe Bird Sanctuary outside of Mindo, Ecuador. |
The female has green spotted white underparts, a white spot behind the eye, a white stripe below the eye and a white cornered black tail.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cgLrCxC5ilKHXhVFKzx8RWAMYINrR3pZWAkxho8uhVjlxU1uwxCOJGDjd-ftQRRD-YkxNacrNC3bVeCDNI2k3bu05M1LvmL6Zd8W3yGznjHjqEsuIygMgdNIkggCYkbBrfJfp8564BrLwOqfAz6WDXmaiINSb8NltCAChN4RTYp2QIAIcRinlT9h/w400-h346/260%20Green-Crowned%20Brilliant.jpg) |
And I only photographed females at the Amagusa Preserve in Mashpi, Ecuador. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bzOJ_MHTDgHtFaoEthgUAMa1NmlR82pNiiUKTHZUFGgDwBW7Fi2x27O_ZjSXr2fOKuRF36saDDxauz0Ksni7BnqaUfWP2RqPQGtNi0PObFS5bTj40i6fQud-J1rp2mzDVWRIxRbbEMNr6QJKl9MwWunzOMpUGUUPTyk9KZQ6AiA1fo5AEueXwkAG/w400-h334/640.jpg) |
Note the white thighs. |
This species appears to be the upper class among hummingbirds. Very well-groomed and chic.
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