Plain-capped starthroat

Adults are colored predominantly metallic bronze on their upper-parts, tail, back and crown. The bird has a dark eye-stripe with a white stripe above and below. The Starthroat also has a white patch on the rump. The throat patch, or gorget, is a metallic violet-red. The breast and underparts are a grayish white. The bill is straight, long and very slender. It is darkly colored. The female is slightly less colorful than the male.

The Plain-capped starthroat is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Plain-capped Starthroat is normally resident from southern Sonora, Mexico to northern Costa Rica. It strays casually to southern Arizona in summer and early fall, chiefly to elevations between 4,000 and 5,000 feet. While birders most often find them at feeders, the species prefers hawking insects to taking nectar. They are also attracted to blooming century plants. The first Arizona (and U.S.) record was at a Nogales feeder, 20-30 September 1969. More

Plain-capped Starthroat (Heliomaster constantii) is an ABA Code-4 species and resident from the Pacific Slope of northwest Mexico to northwest Costa Rica (ABA Checklist, Seventh Edition, Pranty et. al.). It is mostly an insectivorous species, hawking insects with swift-like flights including glides (Hummingbirds of North America, Willimason). Although it does not frequently associate with feeders or flowering plants in the U.S. More

The Plain-capped Starthroat, Heliomaster constantii, is a large-sized hummingbird. It is 11-12 cm long, and weighs approximately 7-8 g. Adults are colored predominantly metallic bronze on their upper-parts, tail, back and crown. The bird has a dark eye-stripe with a white stripe above and below. The Starthroat also has a white patch on the rump. The throat patch, or gorget, is a metallic violet-red. The breast and underparts are a grayish white. The bill is straight, long and very slender. It is darkly colored. More

The Plain-capped Starthroat has a large range, estimated globally at 530,000 square kilometers. Native to the United States and Mexico as well as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, this bird prefers subtropical or tropical forest and shrubland ecosystems, dry savannas, and even plantation land. The global population of this bird has not been precisely determined but does not show signs of decline that would necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. More

Find your Plain-capped Starthroat pictures at Picsearch.com! We have over a billion indexed images in our directory, and it continually expands. www.picsearch. More

The Plain-capped Starthroat in the photos above and right, taken by SABO Director Tom Wood using a digital camera and spotting scope, appeared at the Public Viewing Area at Beatty's Guest Ranch around noon on Saturday, June 29, 2002. It visited the feeders at least 8 times the first afternoon, which is somewhat surprising since the species is highly insectivorous. More

Plain-capped Starthroat, Arizona, Ash Canyon Bed and Breakfast 6/19/03 © Joe Woodley More pics of this and Lucifer at my website Plain-capped Starthroat - Plain-capped Starthroat, Arizona, Ash Canyon, Huachuca Mts. July 20, 2003 © Joe Morlan This large hummingbird is currently delighting visitors to the Ash Canyon Bed and Breakfast. More