Hummingbirds
There are over 50 species of hummingbirds in Costa Rica, accounting for 15% of the world’s population. Their wings beat, on average, 50 times per second. They can fly forward, sideways, backwards and even upside down. These are descriptions of couple of the species shown here.
White-necked Jacobin The name "Jacobin" for the White-necked Jacobin hummingbird refers to the hood of the bird, which is similar to that of Dominican friars. The French called the Dominicans "Jacobins" because their monastery was attached to the Church of Saint-Jacques in Paris.
Long-billed Hermit The color of the Long-billed Hermit is more subdued than most other Costa Rican hummingbirds, but it is attractive in other ways, for example its long tail feathers. It is called a Hermit as it tends to live a secluded life, often flying long distances alone through the forest canopy to find flowers, rather than defending a specific territory like other hummingbirds.
