Short-crested Coquette
Short-crested Coquette (Lophornis brachylophus)
Name Origin:
The genus Lophornis is from Greek lophos meaning “crest” and ornis meaning “bird,” referring to the crests characteristic of this group. The species name brachylophus combines brachys (short) and lophos (crest), referencing its notably small head crest.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 6.5–7.5 cm (2.6–3.0 in)
⚖️ Weight: ~2.5–3.0 g (0.09–0.11 oz)
🌎 Range: Endemic to the Sierra Madre del Sur in southwestern Mexico
🧭 Elevation: 900–1,500 m (2,950–4,920 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small arthropods
🏡 Habitat: Humid pine-oak forest, cloud forest, and forest edge
🧬 Clade: Lesbiini (“Coquettes”)
📊 Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Monotypic — no subspecies recognized.
Species Overview
The Short-crested Coquette is a tiny, range-restricted hummingbird known only from the humid mid-elevation forests of southwestern Mexico. Males feature a short, dark crest and an iridescent green gorget, with a clean pale belly and a rufous-tipped tail. Unlike more flamboyant coquettes, it has a more subdued appearance and is easily overlooked.
Male Description:
Green upperparts with a metallic emerald gorget, short blackish crest, pale underparts, and a rufous-tipped tail. The bill is straight, red with a black tip.
Female Description:
Lacks crest and gorget. Pale buff underparts, green upperparts, and a similarly colored tail pattern as the male.
Habitat & Behavior:
Prefers humid pine-oak and cloud forests, forest edges, and clearings with flowering plants. Often forages quietly in the midstory, feeding on nectar and small insects. Flight is rapid and direct, and the species is notably inconspicuous despite its vivid throat coloration.
Conservation Note:
The Short-crested Coquette is listed as Critically Endangered due to its extremely limited range and severe habitat loss. It may persist only along a narrow 25-kilometer stretch of the Atoyac–Paraíso–Puerto del Gallo road in Mexico’s Sierra Madre del Sur. Its preferred habitats—humid evergreen forest, semideciduous forest, pink-oak woodland, and mixed plantations—have been heavily fragmented. The global population is small and believed to be declining by 10–19% per decade. This species quietly feeds at mid to high levels in the canopy, often being displaced by more dominant hummingbirds. Males have a short, spiky orange crest, green throat, and rufous tail sides, while females are duller with dark whitish underparts and a faint orange forehead. Its slow, hovering flight and buff band across the lower back give it the look of a large bee or moth. Immediate habitat protection is critical to prevent extinction.
Checkout Anthony’s playlist of this species! Click the top right dropdown to see all the videos.
As researchers and biologists continue to learn more about this fascinating species, they are increasingly reaching out to Anthony to request permission to use his photos in their work. In addition to this recognition, Anthony’s stunning images have been featured on the front cover of a prestigious publication. Furthermore, his photographic achievements have inspired the creation of one of Anthony’s enamel pins, celebrating his contribution to hummingbird conservation and appreciation.
