Hummingbirds of Guatemala – Overview
Guatemala has approximately 37 species of hummingbirds, bringing together both northern and southern lineages in this compact, mountainous country. From lowland forests and foothill coffee farms to pine–oak slopes and cool cloud forests in the western highlands, hummingbirds show how elevation, forest type, and openness shape who appears where.
In Guatemala, you can watch Black-crested Coquette (Lophornis helenae) and Wine-throated Hummingbirds (Selasphorus ellioti) working flowering hedges and forest edges, Garnet-throated Hummingbird (Lamprolaima rhami) and Green-throated Mountain-gems (Lampornis viridipallens) in cool, mossy highland forests, and Rufous Sabrewing (Pampa rufa) and Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird (Tilmatura dupontii) moving between clearings, ravines, and forest borders. Together, these species give Guatemala’s highlands a strong “mountain hummingbird” character that feels different from both lowland Central America and the far north of the country.
Hummingbirds of Guatemala highlighted in Anthony’s work
Several hummingbirds stand out as anchors of Anthony’s time in the western highlands of Guatemala. The Garnet-throated Hummingbird (Lamprolaima rhami), Green-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis viridipallens), Wine-throated Hummingbird (Selasphorus ellioti), and Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird (Tilmatura dupontii) are key highland specialties that show how hummingbird communities change with elevation and forest structure. The Black-crested Coquette (Lophornis helenae) and Rufous Sabrewing (Pampa rufa) add contrasting shapes and foraging styles, rounding out a memorable group of target species for many visiting birders and photographers.
Anthony has photographed 34 of the roughly 37 hummingbird species recorded in Guatemala, with a strong emphasis on western highland hummingbirds and regional specialties. The first section highlights the hummingbirds photographed in Guatemala, and the second showcases additional Guatemalan species documented in neighboring countries, building a more complete picture of the country’s hummingbird fauna.
Major hummingbird habitats in Guatemala
Lowland and foothill forests – hummingbirds use humid lowland and foothill forests, forest edges, and riparian corridors on both the Caribbean and Pacific slopes.
Pine–oak and mid-elevation slopes: a mix of hummingbirds using pine–oak woods, coffee farms, and semi-open landscapes with scattered flowering trees and shrubs.
Cloud forests and highland ridges – Garnet-throated Hummingbird (Lamprolaima rhami), Green-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis viridipallens), Wine-throated Hummingbird (Selasphorus ellioti), and Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird (Tilmatura dupontii) in cool, moist forests, ravines, and at forest edges.
Clearings, hedgerows, and gardens – Black-crested Coquette (Lophornis helenae), Rufous Sabrewing (Pampa rufa), and other species that use flowering hedges, roadsides, second growth, and rural gardens.
Planning a hummingbird trip
If you are interested in traveling with Anthony, joining a small-group hummingbird-focused tour, or reading detailed trip reports about the species and regions he has worked in, visit the Travel with Me page and the Hummingbird Expeditions section of the blog to explore current opportunities and past expeditions
Hummingbird species Anthony photographed in Guatemala
The hummingbirds listed in this section were photographed in Guatemala during Anthony’s fieldwork. Together, they provide a firsthand look at the diversity of Guatemala’s hummingbird community across different regions, elevations and habitats.
Hummingbirds of Guatemala photographed elsewhere
The following hummingbirds occur in Guatemala but were photographed in other countries where Anthony spent time in the field. They help fill out the broader picture of hummingbird diversity in Guatemala, even though they have not yet been documented within the country. As Anthony continues to explore different regions, he will likely photograph any remaining species locally and move them to the “Hummingbird species Anthony photographed in Guatemala” section.
What is the last species to be photographed?
Blue-throated Goldentail
Explore hummingbirds by country to see which species Anthony has photographed in each place and how his growing gallery fits together across the Americas.
