If you’ve spent more than a few minutes around a flowering garden in Troncones, you’ve probably seen one. Hummingbirds are everywhere here—fast, feisty, and almost always convinced that the flowers belong to them. While several species can appear along this stretch of coast, two are the most likely to show up right in front of you.
Cinnamon Hummingbird. Photo by William Mertz
CINNAMON HUMMINGBIRD
This is the hummingbird you’re most likely to see in town. If you spot one zipping through hotel gardens, hovering at flowers, or chasing anything that dares to approach a feeder, it’s probably a cinnamon.
A warm cinnamon or reddish-brown body, green wings, and a bright red bill make it easy to recognize. In good light, it’s a beautiful bird—rich, warm tones that look made for tropical gardens.
Cinnamon Hummingbird, tail open. Photo by William MertzCinnamon hummingbirds are famously territorial. They don’t just defend a feeding area—they patrol it. You’ll often see aerial chases and mid-air battles, whether they’re fighting another cinnamon or driving off a different species entirely. They are also the most vocal hummingbirds locally. Constant chittering and twittering often give away their presence before you ever see them. Males and females look similar, with females slightly more muted in coloration.
Male Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird. Photo by William Mertz
TURQUOISE-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD
Some visitors—and even some longtime birders—still call this one a “broad-billed,” because until recently it was often treated as part of that group. It was also widely known as Doubleday’s Hummingbird. Today, major birding organizations recognize it as its own species: the Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird.
Noticeably smaller and more delicate than a cinnamon, it is a slight and quick little bird. In sunlight, the male can be breathtaking. Deep purple tones dominate, with metallic emerald greens and flashes of blue depending on the angle. It also has a bright red bill. It is easily one of the most beautiful hummingbirds most visitors will see here.
They can be territorial, but they usually will not win a standoff with a cinnamon. Among themselves, however, they will squabble and chase just as fiercely.
Female Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird. Photo by William MertzThe female is much more subtle—mostly olive-green with buff-gray underparts and a less vivid reddish bill. Like many female hummingbirds, she can look plain at first glance. The key field mark is a distinct white stripe through the eye, which helps separate her from other drab female hummingbirds that may pass through the area.
For all their beauty, hummingbirds are not delicate little ornaments. They are widely considered among the most aggressive birds in the world. They spend a remarkable amount of their time defending territory—chasing, diving, and battling rivals over flowers and feeding areas.
Male Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird in flight. Photo by William MertzIt is a funny contradiction. Creatures this small and brilliant in color are also some of the fiercest.
The next time you see one hovering peacefully in a garden, remember: you are looking at a tiny, airborne gladiator.