Canivet's Emerald

The Canivet's emerald (Cynanthus canivetii), a diminutive and vibrant hummingbird, exhibits sexual dimorphism in its plumage. Males are resplendent with a golden to golden-green crown and shimmering upperparts, while their underparts boast a similar lustrous hue complemented by white thigh tufts. Their tail is a striking blue-black or black with a blue sheen, long and forked, with the central feathers tipped in dark brownish-gray. Females, slightly smaller, have a more subdued bronze-green to bright metallic green plumage, with a distinctive grayish white postocular stripe and lighter gray underparts. Their tails are shorter and less deeply forked, with a beautiful metallic green to bluish-green hue, black banding, and white tips on the outer feathers.

Identification Tips

To identify the Canivet's emerald, look for the male's red bill with a black tip and the female's black maxilla and red mandible with a black tip. The male's long, forked tail with blue-black feathers and the female's less forked tail with green and black banding are also key characteristics.

Habitat

This species thrives in arid to semi-humid environments, favoring semi-open to open landscapes such as forest edges, clearings, secondary forests, scrubby savannas, and gardens.

Distribution

Canivet's emerald graces a range extending from eastern Mexico through Belize, northern Guatemala, and into Honduras, including offshore islands. It is also found from Chiapas in southern Mexico to western Nicaragua and on the Pacific side of northwestern Costa Rica.

Behaviour

A year-round resident, Canivet's emerald engages in trap-lining for nectar, visiting a circuit of flowers without defending a territory. It feeds from low to mid-height vegetation, often targeting small flowers overlooked by other hummingbirds. While feeding, it exhibits a characteristic tail wagging.

Song & calls

The male's song is a monotonous, wiry "tseee tseeree," while its call is a dry, scratchy "chut" or "chit," which can merge into a soft, staccato chatter.

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary by region, with nests—a cup of plant fibers and down adorned with bark—typically placed 1 to 3 meters above ground. Incubation and fledging periods remain undocumented.

Similar Species

Similar species may include other emeralds or hummingbirds with green plumage, but the Canivet's emerald's distinctive tail and size can aid in differentiation.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists of nectar and small arthropods. When nectaring, the bird holds its tail partly open, a unique behavior among hummingbirds.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists Canivet's emerald as Least Concern, with a stable population estimated at over 500,000 mature individuals. It appears to be resilient to human activity, often inhabiting disturbed and edge habitats, including gardens.