This Tiny Hummingbird Is Absolutely Unique With A Fabulous Spiky Orange Crest

These chubby wingy guys are among the most stunning, beautiful creatures habituating in South American forests. Due to the species' small size and population, they are a rare sight to admire. Meet the rufous-crested coquette (Lophornis delattrei), a species of hummingbird native to the tropical slopes of Pacific South America!
What makes a rufous-crested coquette so special? It is the fairy tale crown that only male ones of these small hummingbirds have. They have fabulous spiky orange crests and feathers tipped in black; otherwise greenish with dark throat and conspicuous white band across the rump.

#1. Adult male

Source: Peter Hawrylyshyn, Waqanki Feeders, San Martín, Peru

#2. Adult male

Source: graichen & recer, Canopy Lodge, Coclé, Panama

#3. Female/immature male

Source: Johan Chaves, Rancho Naturalista, Cartago, Costa Rica

Females, while less obvious, can be identified by their small size and by rufous colored foreheads and throat, and a white band across the rump.

#4. Adult male

Source: Ben Sanders, Reserva Arena Blanca, San Martín, Peru

#5. Adult male

Source: Jesse Huth, Waqanki/Quebrada Mishquiyaquillo, San Martín, Peru

#6. Female/immature male

Source: Brian Sullivan, Amazonía Lodge, Madre de Dios, Peru

Rufous-Crested Coquettes are 6.4 cm to 7.0 cm in length. They have a wingspan of 4.0 cm to 4.5 cm and weigh an average of 2.8g. What a cute, tiny fellow!

#7. Female

Source: CELINE LAHAYE, Cerro Azul--Casa Colibrí, El Torreón, Panamá, Panama

#8. Foraging nectar

Source: Jon Pleizier, Canopy Lodge, Coclé, Panama

#9. Amazing

Source: Thibaud Aronson, Waqanki/Quebrada Mishquiyaquillo, San Martín, Peru

These hummingbirds forage primarily in sparsely forested regions and are often found on low-flowering plant species. They especially love little white flowers since they feed on the nectar of these flowering plants. They also catch insects through hawking.
Males present a similar courtship ritual to other Coquette species. It is a series of lateral oscillating flights in front of a perched female, displaying the crest.

#10. A male on perch flaring crest. This was taken in the hummingbird feeder area and this bird had a favorite perch which he defended.

Source: Robert Lewis, Waqanki/Quebrada Mishquiyaquillo, San Martín, Peru

#11. Wow

Source: Thibaud Aronson, Waqanki/Quebrada Mishquiyaquillo, San Martín, Peru

#12. Immature one

Source: Juan D Astorga, Tuis, Turrialba, Cartago, Costa Rica

#13. So gorgeous

Source: Thibaud Aronson, Waqanki/Quebrada Mishquiyaquillo, San Martín, Peru

Coquette hummingbirds exhibit a distinctive vertical pumping of their tails when in flight, which makes them look like sphinx moths.Rufous-crested coquettes are primarily silent. Still, they make a sharp "tsip" noise when foraging on nectar and soft chipping sounds. Besides, their rapid wingbeats produce a quiet humming sound when in flight.The rufous-crested coquette is rare, yet its populations appear stable, and the IUCN red list ranks this species as Least Concern.

#14. Very beautiful

Source: imgur

#15. Chubby...

Source: imgur

#16. ... and cute

Source: imgur

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