Tufted Coquette

Jul 17

Tufted Coquette (Lophornis ornatus)

Name Origin:
The genus Lophornis comes from Greek lophos meaning “crest” and ornis meaning “bird,” referencing the elaborate crests of males. The species name ornatus is Latin for “adorned” or “ornate,” describing the male’s flamboyant plumage.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 6.6–7.1 cm (2.6–2.8 in)
⚖️ Weight: 2.3–2.7 g (0.08–0.10 oz)
🌎 Range: Northern South America, including Trinidad, eastern Venezuela, the Guianas, and northern Brazil
🧭 Elevation: Lowlands up to 1,000 m (3,280 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Humid forest edge, gardens, and shrubby clearings
🧬 Clade: Lesbiini – “Coquettes”
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution
Monotypic – no recognized subspecies.

Species Overview
The Tufted Coquette is one of the smallest and most distinctive hummingbirds in South America. Males are unmistakable with their spiky orange crest, rufous cheek tufts, and glittering green body. This species favors open areas with abundant flowers, including forest edges, gardens, and plantations, where it feeds low in the vegetation with fast, darting movements.

Male Description:
Bright green upperparts, bold orange crest, and large rufous-orange cheek tufts. Underparts are green with a pale band across the lower belly. Tail is bronze with rufous tones.

Female Description:
Lacks crest and cheek tufts. Green upperparts, pale rufous underparts with green spotting on the throat and chest, and a bronze tail tipped with pale rufous.

Habitat & Behavior:
Often found at the forest edge, clearings, and cultivated areas with flowering plants. Typically forages low, hovering briefly at each bloom. Males display their ornate crests during courtship and are highly territorial around flowering patches. Their buzzing flight and flashy appearance make them conspicuous despite their tiny size.

Conservation Note:
The species is widespread and fairly common across its range, including in disturbed and semi-open habitats. It benefits from gardens and flowering shrubs in human-altered landscapes. However, localized declines can occur due to habitat loss, particularly in parts of its range undergoing rapid development.