The Crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania colombica) favors evergreen forest and edge in tropical lowlands, often near streams. Male is stunning but often looks all dark: note the fairly long, deeply forked tail and brilliant emerald and violet plumage. Female rather dull and plain: note the black bill, green-mottled flanks, and blue-black tail with whitish corners.

Habitats & Distribution

The Crowned Woodnymph primarily inhabits tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, but it can also be found in montane regions and along forest edges. This species thrives in a diverse array of environments including secondary growth forests, plantations, and sometimes even gardens. Their preference for dense, humid habitats ensures they have ample access to flowering plants, which are essential for their nectar-based diet. Geographically, the Crowned Woodnymph is distributed from southern Central America through northern South America. Its range includes countries like Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and parts of Ecuador. The bird tends to favor elevations ranging from sea level to around 2,500 meters, depending on the availability of suitable forested environments.

Behaviours & Reproduction

The Crowned Woodnymph exhibits solitary and territorial behavior, particularly evident during the breeding season. Males establish and vigorously defend territories rich in food resources, using their vibrant plumage and aerial displays to attract females and ward off rivals. Mating involves elaborate courtship displays, where the male performs intricate flight maneuvers and emits rapid, high-pitched calls to woo the female. Once pair-bonded, the female takes sole responsibility for nest building, egg incubation, and chick rearing. She constructs a small, cup-shaped nest out of plant fibers, moss, and spider webs, typically positioned on a low branch in dense foliage. She lays two tiny, white eggs and incubates them for about two weeks. After hatching, she feeds the chicks with regurgitated nectar and insects until they fledge approximately three weeks later. The male does not participate in nesting or chick-rearing, focusing instead on maintaining his territory and attracting additional mates.

Diet

The food of this species is nectar, taken from a variety of flowers.

Colors

Iridescent green cap, throat, and breast. The rest of the underparts are deep iridescent blue. The tail is dark blue and forked. The female has green upperparts and mostly gray underparts with green on the sides of the breast and belly.

Fun Facts

Feeds mainly at low to middle levels in shady understory, but comes to feeders at edges and in clearings.

Conservation Status & Efforts

The conservation status of the Crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania colombica) is currently classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List. The species exhibits a stable population trend, although localized declines may occur due to habitat loss. Primary threats to this hummingbird include deforestation and habitat fragmentation, driven by agriculture, logging, and human encroachment. Conservation efforts for the Crowned Woodnymph focus on habitat preservation and sustainable land management practices. Protected areas and reserves play a critical role in safeguarding their habitats. Additionally, environmental organizations are working with local communities to promote awareness and implement conservation strategies that mitigate habitat destruction while supporting ecological research and monitoring of population dynamics.