Mangrove
Common name: Mangrove Hummingbird
Scientfic name: Chrysuronia boucardi
Clades: Trochilini - Emeralds
Endemic to Costa Rica and the only Costa Rican hummingbird listed as Endangered by the IUCN, the Mangrove Hummingbird is a coastal specialist, found solely within the mangrove forests of the Pacific lowlands. It measures 9 to 10 cm in length and weighs 3.5 to 5 grams, making it both delicate and remarkable.
Male Description:
The male exhibits a dazzling display of iridescent green plumage, a vivid violet throat, and a slightly darker crown. When seen in sunlight, his feathers shimmer with metallic intensity. His straight black bill and sleek silhouette give him a streamlined elegance, particularly striking against the subdued tones of his mangrove habitat.
Female Description:
The female is more softly colored, with paler underparts and a subtler green sheen on the back and crown. While lacking the male’s violet throat, she maintains the straight bill and understated beauty, well-suited for her discreet role in nesting and foraging.
Habitat & Conservation:
Restricted to narrow stretches of coastal mangrove forest, this species feeds primarily on nectar from mangrove flowers and supplements with small insects. Coastal development and mangrove degradation have critically reduced its habitat, making targeted conservation essential. Protecting this hummingbird means preserving one of Costa Rica’s most unique natural legacies.
Checkout Anthony’s playlist of this species! Click the top right dropdown to see all the videos.