Photographed by Gabriel Rodriguez from his balcony in Guatemala City, this striking hummingbird doesn’t match anything in the field guides. With a shimmering green body, electric blue throat, and coppery tail fans, it appears to be a hybrid between the Berylline Hummingbird (Saucerottia beryllina) and the Azure-crowned Hummingbird (Saucerottia cyanocephala).

A Visual Mix of Two Saucerottia Species

The bird shows a clean blend of traits from both parent species, while still maintaining a distinct look:

Throat and crown: Bright blue iridescence, a strong indicator of S. cyanocephala influence.
Back and flanks: Deep green typical of S. beryllina.
Tail and underwings: Rufous tones that align with the Berylline's coppery tail feathers.
Beak and posture: Straight and medium-length, consistent with both species.

In one image, the bird hovers in perfect form, tail spread like bronze fans. In another, it’s perched high with its beak pointed skyward — confident, alert, and photogenic.

Not Your Average Backyard Bird

Hybrids within the same genus — like this apparent cross between two Saucerottia species — are biologically plausible but rarely observed this clearly. Both parent species have overlapping ranges in Guatemala’s highlands, especially around the city’s green pockets and gardens.

This hybrid is more than a blur of features — it’s a functional and visually distinct individual, showing that even within a shared genus, nature isn’t afraid to mix things up.

Urban Biodiversity at Its Best

What is the most surprising part of this sighting? It happened in Guatemala City, not a remote rainforest. This challenges the idea that rare bird sightings are limited to untouched ecosystems. With the right combination of native plants, elevation, and microclimates, even urban balconies can become home to evolutionary surprises.

Why It Matters

Every hybrid is a datapoint in the bigger story of how species adapt and interact. As climate shifts and urbanization expands, these crossings might become more common — or at least more visible.

Key questions that emerge: