Hummingbirds of Costa Rica

Of the 338 known species of Hummingbird worldwide there are around 50 in Costa Rica.

Hummingbirds are named for the distinctive sound made by their tiny beating wings, and are admired for their vibrantly colored iridescent plumage. Their ability to hover, with wings beating between 12 and 90 times a second, and to fly backwards makes them different from all other birds.

Take a look at the colorful hummingbirds found in the island country.

In this photo, A Green Crowned Brilliant is pictured at a Hummingbird feeding station on January 15, 2016 in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Black Bellied Hummingbird

A Black Bellied Hummingbird is pictured at a Hummingbird feeding station on January 15, 2016 in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

They are some of the smallest birds in the world and have the highest metabolic rate of any bird with a heart rate that can exceed 1,200 beats a minute. They can hear and see better than humans, but have a poor sense of smell. Hummingbirds eat at least half their body weight in food every day, darting between flowers to lap up nectar.

Antillean crested hummingbird

An Antillean crested hummingbird feeds on the nectar of a flower at Mero, Dominica, June 6, 2015.

The Antillean crested hummingbird is one of the few hummingbirds with a crest.

Purple Throated Mountain Gem

A Purple Throated Mountain Gem is pictured resting near a Hummingbird feeding station on January 15, 2016 in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

They are generally solitary, very territorial and can be incredibly aggressive towards other birds. At night they go into a state of torpor to help conserve energy, and occasionally can be found sleeping upside down like bats on branches.

Violet Sabrewing

A Violet Sabrewing is pictured at a Hummingbird feeding station on January 15, 2016 in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Green Hermit

A Green Hermit is pictured at a Hummingbird feeding station on January 15, 2016 in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Coppery Headed Emerald

A Coppery Headed Emerald is pictured at a Hummingbird feeding station on January 07, 2016 in Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Magenta Throated Woodstar

A Magenta Throated Woodstar is pictured at a Hummingbird feeding station on January 07, 2016 in Monteverde Costa Rica.

Green Violetear

A Green Violetear is pictured at a Hummingbird feeding station on January 07, 2016 in Monteverde Costa Rica.

White Bellied Mountain Gem

A White Bellied Mountain Gem is pictured resting near a Hummingbird feeding station on January 15, 2016 in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Rufous Tailed Hummingbird

A Rufous Tailed Hummingbird is pictured at a Hummingbird feeding station on January 15, 2016 in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Green Thorntail

A Green Thorntail is pictured at a Hummingbird feeding station on January 15, 2016 in Alajuela, Costa Rica.