Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Snowcap (Microchera albocoronata), male
Snowcap, Male

Snowcap

Microchera albocoronata

The Snowcap, a diminutive and striking hummingbird, measures a mere 6.5 to 7 cm in length and tips the scales at approximately 2.7 grams. This species is adorned with a distinctive white crown and forehead, which inspired both its English and scientific names. The males exhibit a dark purple plumage with a purplish-black nape and a reddish gloss on their back, rump, and uppertail coverts. Their face and underparts are a glossy black with a reddish-purple sheen. The females, on the other hand, boast a metallic green back with bronze uppertail coverts and pale grayish-white underparts.

Identification Tips

To identify the Snowcap, look for the adult male's white crown, a feature that is unmistakable in the field. The females and immature males can be recognized by their metallic green backs and the unique pattern of their tail feathers, which are bronze in the center and mostly black with white bases and tips on the outer feathers.

Habitat

The Snowcap favors humid lowland and montane forests, semi-open woodlands, and secondary forests. It thrives in forest openings and more open landscapes such as plantations, rather than in the depths of the forest.

Distribution

This species is found in the Caribbean slope of Central America, ranging from southern Honduras through Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and possibly extending into western Panama. It also occurs locally on Costa Rica's Pacific slope.

Behaviour

Snowcaps exhibit a seasonal movement pattern in Costa Rica, descending to lower elevations post-breeding, with some individuals wandering higher than their breeding zones. They forage for nectar across various heights, from understory to canopy, and males are known to defend their feeding territories.

Song & calls

The male Snowcap's song is a soft, sputtering warble, while its calls include a high-pitched, dry "tsip" and buzzy notes during aggressive interactions.

Breeding

The breeding season for Snowcaps in Costa Rica spans from January to May. Males display at leks, singing and chasing rivals. Females construct a small cup nest on twigs or vines, laying two eggs per clutch. The incubation period and fledging time remain undocumented.

Similar Species

While the Snowcap's white crown is distinctive, it may be confused with other small hummingbirds in its range. Careful observation of its unique plumage and behavior is necessary for accurate identification.

Diet and Feeding

Snowcaps primarily feed on nectar from a variety of small flowers and also glean arthropods from foliage. Males occasionally hawk for small insects from a perch.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Snowcap as Least Concern. Although its population is believed to be decreasing, it faces no immediate threats. However, severe deforestation poses a risk to its habitat in many parts of its range.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Snowcaps on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Hummingbirds

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
EandB17
Terrific App for Birders
Downloaded Birda around the time my interest in birding was sparked, and it has been a terrific app to help me (1) share my experience, (2) document my sightings, and (3) learn more about birds in general. That said, I also believe Birda is a fantastic app for birders of all experience levels. Great community!
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
Patricia L
Very encouraging birding app
Easy to use, fun to see progress and encouraging to receive feedback from other users.
Nicole
Gets me outdoors more
I'm still loving this app. I use it most days & gets me outdoors more. Enjoying watching others progress and photo's, it's improved my wellbeing.... I love this app! I can keep a record of sightings and see what others have seen too.
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
Jake W
Great app
I use this app all the time as it’s quick and easy to log individual sightings or whole birding sessions. It’s an excellent way to meet new people and the forum is full of really friendly people. The challenges are a great way to get involved and learn more about birds. Cannot recommend it enough!
D3Nature
Great app for learning Birds
I’ve been using the app for a couple of months and love it....Someone said it’s like a real life Pokémon Go for birds. They’re not far off! It’s something that the family can do that gets you out and about. Well worth downloading no matter your age.
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.