Rufous-crested Coquette (Lophornis delattrei)

Identification & Behavior: ~7.5 cm (3 in).  The male and female Rufous-crested Coquette are reddish-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 a rufous forehead and throat. The tail is rufous with a black sub-terminal band.  Both sexes are very similar to the Spangled Coquette. The male Rufous-crested Coquette has very small black tips on the crest versus round and larger in Spangled Coquette. The female Rufous-crested Coquette has a more saturated coloration.

Status: The Rufous-crested Coquette is uncommon to rare in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 500-1400 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Coqueta de Cresta.

Sub-species: Rufous-crested Coquette (Lophornis delattrei delattrei), Lesson, 1839.

Meaning of Name: Lophornis: Gr. Lophos= crest, tuft and ornis= bird. delattrei: In honor of Pierre Adolphe Delattre or De Lattre (1805-1854) French naturalist, explorer, collector in Mexico and Colombia.

See more of the Family Trochilidae