Spangled Coquette (Lophornis stictolophus)

Identification & Behavior: ~7 cm (3 in). The male and female Spangled Coquette are green above with a white band across the rump. The adult male has an orange-rufous and spiky crest, green iridescent gorget, and green belly. The tail in the male is short, square, and rufous. The female has pale-rufous forehead and throat. The tail is rufous with a black sub-terminal band. Both sexes are very similar to the Rufous-crested Coquette. The male Spangled-crested Coquette has round and larger black tips on the crest. The female Spangled Coquette has a less saturated coloration.

Status: The status of the Spangled Coquette is poorly understood in Peru. It is known from only a few sightings on the eastern foothills of extreme northeast Peru. It also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Coqueta Coronada.

Sub-species: Spangled Coquette (Lophornis stictolophus), Salvin and Elliot, 1873.

Meaning of Name: Lophornis: Gr. Lophos= crest, tuft and ornis= bird. stictolophus: Gr. stiktos= spotted and  lophos= crest.

See more of the Family Trochilidae