Blue-capped Hummingbird

Mexico

Jul 17

Blue-capped Hummingbird (Eupherusa cyanophrys)

Name Origin:
The genus name Eupherusa may derive from the Greek eu meaning “good” or “well” and pherusa meaning “bearing” or “carrying,” possibly referring to the group’s graceful flight. The species name cyanophrys combines the Greek kyanos meaning “blue” and ophrys meaning “brow,” a direct reference to the brilliant blue crown that distinguishes this species.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 10–11 cm (3.9–4.3 in)
⚖️ Weight: 4–5 g (0.14–0.18 oz)
🌎 Range: Endemic to southern Mexico (Pacific slope of Oaxaca)
🧭 Elevation: 700–1,800 m (2,300–5,900 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Humid evergreen and semi-humid forest, forest edges, and shade coffee plantations
🧬 Clade: Trochilini "Emeralds" (mid-elevation hummingbirds)
📊 Status: Endangered (IUCN)

Subspecies & Distribution

Monotypic species with no recognized subspecies.

Distribution: Found only on the Pacific slope of the Sierra de Miahuatlán in southwestern Oaxaca, Mexico. It inhabits humid and semi-humid montane forests, forest edges, and traditional shade coffee plantations, where it forages primarily at mid-level flowering trees and shrubs.

Species Overview

The Blue-capped Hummingbird is an elegant and highly localized species confined to the Pacific slope of Oaxaca, Mexico. Its shimmering blue crown, emerald-green plumage, and rufous wings set it apart from all other Eupherusa hummingbirds. This rare endemic plays an important ecological role as a pollinator in Mexico’s threatened montane forest ecosystems.

Male Description:
The male displays brilliant metallic blue on the crown, emerald-green upperparts, and rufous wings. The underparts are pale grayish with a green wash on the sides. The tail is bronze-green with a slight bluish sheen, and the bill is straight and black. The contrast of the blue crown and reddish wings makes the male unmistakable.

Female Description:
The female is similar but with a duller blue crown, less iridescent green plumage, and a grayish-white throat and belly. Her tail is shorter and rounded, and the rufous in the wings is paler. She forages more quietly than the male, often at lower heights in the vegetation.

Habitat & Behavior:
This species inhabits humid montane and semi-humid forests, favoring areas with a dense canopy and scattered flowering trees. It feeds mainly on nectar from Inga, Palicourea, and Heliconia, and supplements its diet with small insects. The Blue-capped Hummingbird is often found alone or in pairs, perching between feeding bouts in shady forest interiors. It occasionally visits shade coffee plantations, which provide critical foraging habitat.

Conservation Note:
The Blue-capped Hummingbird is listed as Endangered by the IUCN due to its extremely small range and ongoing habitat loss from logging and agricultural expansion in Oaxaca. The global population is believed to number fewer than 2,000 mature individuals. Conservation efforts center on protecting the Sierra de Miahuatlán forests, promoting sustainable shade-grown coffee, and raising awareness of this species as one of Mexico’s most imperiled avian endemics.