Puerto Rico is home to several species of hummingbirds, which are a significant part of the island’s biodiversity. These tiny fliers perform a highly specialized role as pollinators for numerous flowering plants. The island hosts both native resident species and some that are found nowhere else in the world.
Identification of Species Found on the Island
The archipelago is a permanent or seasonal home to at least five distinct types of hummingbirds, including two that are endemic to the region. The most commonly observed resident is the Puerto Rican Emerald, a small, brilliant species with an iridescent green body. Another frequent sight is the Antillean Crested Hummingbird, which is easily identified by the male’s distinct, spiky green crest that can flash with bright color.
The Green Mango is another endemic species known for its glossy green plumage and residence in the island’s forests. Larger species, such as the Antillean Mango and the Green-throated Carib, also make their home there, often appearing more brassy or bronze in their coloration. Occasional visitors, like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, are sometimes recorded during their migratory journeys.
Habitats and Preferred Environments
Hummingbirds in Puerto Rico are highly adaptable, occupying a vast range of ecological niches from sea level up to elevations of about 800 meters. They thrive in coastal areas, particularly in wooded zones and among mangrove forests where tropical flowers bloom year-round. These birds move freely between natural and human-modified settings, showing a preference for areas with abundant nectar sources.
They are frequently observed in the subtropical moist forest, which covers much of the island’s mid-elevations, and they are common in the dense foliage of the El Yunque National Forest. Hummingbirds also readily colonize shade coffee plantations, fruit orchards, and urban parks, demonstrating their ability to utilize cultivated landscapes. Their distribution also includes the drier subtropical forest zones, such as the Guánica Biosphere Reserve, where specific flora provides sustenance.
Profile of the Puerto Rican Emerald
The Puerto Rican Emerald (Riccordia maugaeus) is the only hummingbird species found exclusively on the island. Males of this diminutive species measure between 8.5 and 9.5 centimeters in length and weigh 3.4 to 3.8 grams. Their appearance comes from the dazzling iridescent green of their body, complemented by a bluish-green throat and a distinctly forked, steely-blue tail.
Females are slightly smaller, measuring 7.5 to 8.5 centimeters, and have a more subdued plumage with a gray throat. Their tail is less-forked and features pale markings on the outer feathers. Both sexes possess a small white spot just behind the eye, a useful field mark for identification. Males frequently engage in intense aerial pursuits to defend prime feeding territories rich in nectar.
This hummingbird relies primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering trees and shrubs, which it extracts using its specialized long, tubular tongue. They also supplement their diet with small insects and spiders, which provide necessary protein for their high-energy lifestyle. The Puerto Rican Emerald is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN, as it remains common across its restricted range and has adapted well to gardens and other disturbed habitats.