Frilled Coquette
Scientific name: Lophornis magnificus
The Frilled Coquette is a tiny, ornate hummingbird endemic to Brazil, found mainly in the Atlantic Forest region and nearby habitats in eastern and southeastern parts of the country. The number of mature individuals is unknown, its population trend is considered decreasing, and it is currently assessed as Least Concern.
At a Glance
Family: Trochilidae (hummingbirds)
Clade: Lesbiini – coquettes
Genus: Lophornis — very small, crested hummingbirds with elaborate head and throat plumes
Range: Eastern and southeastern Brazil, primarily within the Atlantic Forest region and adjacent areas
Habitat: Humid primary and secondary forest, forest edges, clearings, gardens, and other semi-open areas with abundant flowering shrubs and trees
Elevation: Mostly from lowlands up to foothill elevations, roughly to about 1,000 m
Length: About 6.5–7.5 cm (2.6–3.0 in)
Weight: Around 2–3 g
Number of mature individuals: Unknown
Population trend: Decreasing
Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Name Origin
The genus name Lophornis comes from Greek words meaning “crest” and “bird,” in reference to the prominent crests and decorative plumage typical of coquettes. The species name magnificus means “magnificent,” reflecting the male’s spectacular frill and bright, ornate plumage. The English name “Frilled Coquette” points directly to the distinctive frill-like throat and neck feathers that make this hummingbird so eye-catching.
Subspecies & Distribution
Frilled Coquette is generally treated as monotypic, with no widely recognized subspecies.
It is endemic to Brazil, occurring mainly in the eastern and southeastern parts of the country within and around the Atlantic Forest. It inhabits a mosaic of forest, edges, second growth, and semi-open areas where flowering plants are plentiful. Within this range, it tends to be patchily distributed, following suitable habitat and nectar resources.
Ledged
Green Resident
Species Overview
The Frilled Coquette is one of Brazil’s most striking small hummingbirds, notable for its tiny size and highly ornamental plumage. It favors humid forest regions and adjacent semi-open landscapes, especially places with flowering trees and shrubs at forest edges, in clearings, and around human-modified areas such as gardens. Although currently listed as Least Concern, its decreasing population trend reflects ongoing pressures on Atlantic Forest and surrounding habitats.
Male Description
The adult male Frilled Coquette is minute but spectacular, with a short, straight bill and a vivid, iridescent appearance. He typically has a colorful crest on the head and a distinctive, flared frill of feathers around the throat and neck that can show rich green, rufous, or coppery tones depending on the light. The upperparts are metallic green, while the underparts are paler, often buffy or whitish with green spotting or suffusion. The tail is relatively short with rufous or bronzy tones and darker tips, completing the compact, highly decorated look.
Female Description
The female lacks the male’s ornate crest and striking throat frill, giving her a more modest, streamlined appearance. Her head and upperparts are metallic green without prominent plumes, and her underparts are whitish to buff with varying amounts of green spotting along the sides. The tail is somewhat longer proportionally than the male’s, greenish above with rufous or buff bases on the outer feathers and pale tips, forming a soft pattern. She appears as a tiny, neat green hummingbird, best identified by size, structure, and association with males in areas where both occur.
Habitat & Behavior
Frilled Coquettes use humid primary and secondary forest, forest edges, clearings, and nearby semi-open habitats, including gardens and shrubby areas with abundant flowers. They often forage at lower and mid-levels of vegetation, working along edges and in gaps where flowering shrubs and small trees are concentrated. Like other coquettes, they feed mainly on nectar, visiting a wide variety of small flowers, and they also take tiny insects for protein, either hawking them in flight or gleaning them from foliage. Individuals are usually seen alone or loosely associated around flowering trees, and despite their tiny size they can be surprisingly active and assertive around rich nectar sources.
Population
The total number of mature Frilled Coquettes is currently unknown, but within its Brazilian range the species is generally considered uncommon to locally fairly common in good habitat. The overall population trend is thought to be decreasing, primarily as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation within the Atlantic Forest and surrounding landscapes. Because the species has a relatively limited endemic range and patchy distribution, continued habitat degradation may lead to further localized declines.
Conservation
Frilled Coquette is listed as Least Concern, reflecting its still-wide occurrence within parts of eastern and southeastern Brazil. However, the documented decreasing population trend highlights ongoing pressures from deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and land-use change in the Atlantic Forest and adjacent regions. Protecting remaining forest fragments, promoting habitat restoration and connectivity, and maintaining flowering resources in secondary growth, edges, and semi-open areas are important for the long-term conservation of this species. Monitoring trends and safeguarding key sites where the species remains regular will help ensure that this tiny, ornate hummingbird continues to be a feature of Brazil’s forested landscapes.
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Related species in the Lophornis genus (11 species total):
Please note: The content provided in this article reflects Anthony’s personal experience and photographic approach. Results can vary depending on light, weather, location, equipment, subject behavior, and field conditions.