The Scintillant hummingbird (Selasphorus scintilla) is only found in the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama. Swainson (1830) named the genus Selasphorus, which means light-bearing. Scintilla means a spark in Latin, so Selasphorus scintilla means a light-bearing spark. The male has bronze-green upperparts, a rufous and black-striped tail, a bright red throat separated from the cinnamon underparts by a white neck band. The female is similar, but her throat is buff with small green spots. Her flanks are a richer rufous colour. The Scintillant Hummingbird is the smallest hummingbird within its range. The bill is black, short and straight. The Scintillant Hammingbird primarily feeds on nectar taken from a variety of brightly coloured, scented small flowers - especially Salvia and Fuchsia.
