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Plain-capped Starthroat
Heliomaster constantii
At a Glance
A native of dry forest in Mexico and Central America, this big hummingbird strays northward into Arizona on occasion. Here it usually occurs in lowland areas near streams or in the open lower areas of canyons; most records have been in summer. Despite the evocative name of 'Starthroat,' the throat color is very hard to see without perfect lighting, and the bird usually looks quite dull overall.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Hummingbirds
Conservation
Low Concern
Habitat
Arroyos and Canyons, Forests and Woodlands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets
Behavior
Hovering, Rapid Wingbeats
Range & Identification
Description
5" (12.5 cm). Large, long-billed, drab hummingbird (red on throat seldom obvious). Has broad white whisker mark, white tuft near base of wings. White rump patch distinctive (but beware partial albinos of other hummer species).
Size
About the size of a Sparrow
Wing Shape
Narrow, Short
Tail Shape
Notched, Rounded, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
Chipping calls
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