Green-crowned Brilliant
Green-crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula)
Name Origin:
The genus Heliodoxa comes from Greek helios meaning “sun” and doxa meaning “glory” or “splendor,” referring to the radiant metallic sheen of its feathers. The species epithet jacula comes from Latin jaculum meaning “dart” or “javelin,” alluding to its swift, direct flight.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 12–13.5 cm (4.7–5.3 in)
⚖️ Weight: 7.0–9.0 g (0.25–0.32 oz)
🌎 Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador
🧭 Elevation: 800–2,000 m (2,600–6,600 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Humid montane forest and forest edge
🧬 Clade: Heliantheini “Brilliants” (large mountain hummingbirds)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Three subspecies:
1. Heliodoxa jacula henryi
Distribution: Highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama, extending east to western Coclé Province.
2. Heliodoxa jacula jacula
Distribution: Eastern Panama south into northern and central Colombia, locally in all three Andean ranges.
3. Heliodoxa jacula jamersoni
Distribution: Southwestern Colombia south to western Ecuador, reaching as far as El Oro Province.
Species Overview
The Green-crowned Brilliant is a large, robust hummingbird found along humid mountain slopes and forested foothills. Its dazzling green plumage and commanding presence make it a common sight at mid-elevation feeders and flowering trees throughout its range. The species is primarily sedentary but may make short elevational movements following blooming cycles.
Male Description:
The male is bright metallic green with a bluish-green crown, dark green underparts, and a slightly forked blue-black tail. The forehead and crown gleam with an emerald sheen, while the chest and belly are a deep, even green. The bill is black and medium-length, slightly decurved.
Female Description:
The female has green upperparts and whitish underparts heavily spotted with green or bronze scaling. The tail is blue-black with prominent white tips on the outer feathers. Females are slightly smaller and paler overall.
Habitat & Behavior:
Found in humid montane forests and edges from 800 to 2,000 meters. Common at flowering trees and feeders, especially Inga, Besleria, Columnea, and Fuchsia. The Green-crowned Brilliant often dominates smaller hummingbirds at feeding sites, defending favored nectar sources with loud, rattling calls. It perches openly between feeding bouts and frequently engages in aerial chases.
Conservation Note:
Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the Green-crowned Brilliant remains common and stable throughout most of its range. It benefits from its adaptability to secondary growth and human-planted gardens. However, localized declines may occur due to deforestation of cloud forests. Populations are protected within numerous reserves, including Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (Costa Rica), Soberanía National Park (Panama), and Mindo-Nambillo Reserve (Ecuador). Maintaining elevational forest corridors is key to sustaining its genetic diversity across its range.
Below is the Green-crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula henryi)
Photographed at Catarata del Toro, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Galería de Colibrí y Soda Cinchona – Mirador San Fernando (Alajuela), and Hotel Quelitales (Cartago), Costa Rica
This individual belongs to the subspecies henryi, found in the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama east to Coclé Province. It inhabits humid montane forest, clearings, and edges between 900 and 2,000 meters elevation.
