Cinnamon Hummingbird or Rufous Hummingbird?

General appearance

The cinnamon hummingbird is notable for its medium size, averaging about 4 inches in length, and its distinctive cinnamon-rufous coloration, which gives the species its name. Their beaks are mostly straight, with a slight curvature towards the end. Their underbellies are a lighter, almost whitish color. Adult feathers shine with a metallic sheen when hit by light.

Male vs female

Males and females roughly resemble each other but can be distinguished by the iridescencent green patch or gorget on the male's throat, absent in the female. Females also tend to be slightly larger in size. The tail of the female is rounded with white tips, a feature that is absent in males, whose tail feathers are uniformly colored.

Juvenile

Juvenile cinnamon hummingbirds feature a speckled appearance, with scattered green and white feathers interspersed with their cinnamon coloration. As they grow, these flecks slowly fade until their full adult plumage takes over. Their beaks, initially darker in color, turn red-orange with maturity.

Primary habitat

The cinnamon hummingbird favors tropical and subtropical forests, shrublands, and heavily degraded former forests. It predominantly exists in the lowlands.

Additional range

This bird species typically ranges from northwestern Mexico to Costa Rica. Unexpectedly, it also occupies mangrove forests and arid conditions like deserts and scrublands.

Natural diet

The cinnamon hummingbird feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering plants. It favors flowers with tubular shapes that accommodate its long bill and enable it to consume the nectar efficiently. In addition to nectar, this hummingbird also consumes small insects and spiders, providing essential proteins and nutrients, especially during breeding season.

Bird feeders

Cinnamon hummingbirds are attracted to bird feeders that offer a sugar-water solution, mimicking the nectar they consume in the wild. The feeders should ideally provide a solution consisting of one part sugar dissolved in four parts water. Red-colored feeders tend to be more successful in attracting these birds, as they associate the color with nectar-rich flowers.