Hummingbirds of Puerto Rico – Overview
Puerto Rico has one of the smaller hummingbird lists in the Americas, but it stands out for its two endemic species and the ease of seeing hummingbirds across forests, gardens, and mountain slopes. From the lush rainforests of El Yunque to the drier southwest and the island’s botanical gardens, Puerto Rico offers a compact but rewarding introduction to Caribbean hummingbird diversity. Endemic hummingbirds of Hispaniola
In Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican Emeralds work gardens, forest edges, and flowering shrubs, while Green Mangoes are more closely tied to humid forests, foothill woodlands, and mountain habitats. Other Caribbean species appear more locally or irregularly, so the island combines reliable endemic hummingbirds with a broader regional flavor.
Endemic hummingbirds of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is home to two endemic hummingbirds found nowhere else in the world: the Green Mango (Anthracothorax viridis) and the Puerto Rican Emerald (Chlorostilbon maugaeus). These species are closely tied to the island’s forests, flowering gardens, and varied elevational zones, making Puerto Rico an especially important destination for hummingbird enthusiasts interested in Caribbean endemics.
Threatened hummingbirds of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico does not currently have a globally threatened endemic hummingbird, but the island’s hummingbird populations still depend on the protection of forests, gardens, and flowering habitats across a relatively small geographic area. Because so much birding on Puerto Rico centers on habitat quality and seasonal bloom, seeing the endemic species in the field is also a reminder of the importance of conserving the island’s remaining natural and semi-natural landscapes.
Major hummingbird habitats in Puerto Rico
Rainforests and humid mountain forests – Green Mangoes, Puerto Rican Emeralds, and other hummingbirds use lush forest interiors, edges, and flowering understories in places such as El Yunque and other mountain forests.
Western and central highlands – Green Mangoes are especially associated with humid woodlands, coffee-growing areas, and mountain forests in the western and central interior.
Gardens, hedgerows, and semi-open habitats – Puerto Rican Emeralds and other hummingbirds regularly visit flowering gardens, shrubby edges, towns, and rural landscapes across the island.
Planning a hummingbird trip
If you are interested in traveling with Anthony, joining a small-group hummingbird-focused tour, or reading detailed trip reports about the species and regions he has worked in, visit the Travel with Me page and the Hummingbird Expeditions section of the blog to explore current opportunities and past expeditions
Hummingbird species Anthony photographed in Puerto Rico
The hummingbirds listed in this section were photographed in Puerto Rico during Anthony’s fieldwork. Together, they provide a firsthand look at the island’s hummingbird diversity across forests, gardens, and mountain habitats.
Hummingbirds of Puerto Rico photographed elsewhere
The following hummingbirds have been reported in Puerto Rico but were photographed in other countries where Anthony has spent time in the field. Many are not resident on the island and are instead rare or accidental visitors, but they still help round out the broader picture of Puerto Rico’s hummingbird diversity. As Anthony continues exploring Puerto Rico, he may eventually photograph some of these species locally and move them into the “Hummingbird species Anthony photographed in Puerto Rico” section
Explore hummingbirds by country to see which species Anthony has photographed in each place and how his growing gallery fits together across the Americas.
