Green-backed Firecrown | Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus

Green-backed Firecrown (Sephanoides sephaniodes) ©WikiC

For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head. (Psalms 21:3 NKJV)

A few days ago, I used this photo for one of our Daily Devotionals, Lee’s Two Word Tuesday. It is such a beautiful creation from the Lord, that I wondered what I could find out about it and where it is from. So, here is what I discovered:

The firecrowns are the genus Sephanoides of the hummingbirds. There are two species. They are members of the Trochilidae – Hummingbird Family.

Green-backed firecrown, Sephanoides sephaniodes

Green-backed Firecrown (Sephanoides sephaniodes) ©Flickr Flavio Camus

The Green-backed Firecrown (Sephanoides sephaniodes) occurs widely in Argentina and Chile and Isla Róbinson Crusoe, one of a three-island archipelago belonging to Chile. This Firecrown seasonally migrates to the mainland. Both species will hang from flower petals or leaves with their feet. They feed on nectar and insects.

“This compact bird has a short bill and tail, overall dark green plumage with whitish-gray underparts, and males possess a namesake glowing orange-red crown patch. These birds are highly territorial and often badger wayward trespassing birds as large as caracaras.” (Neotropical Birds)

Juan Fernández firecrown, Sephanoides fernandensis

Juan Fernández Firecrown (Sephanoides fernandensis hembra) Subspecies ©Flickr Island Conservation

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? (1 Thessalonians 2:19 KJV)

The Juan Fernández Firecrown (Sephanoides fernandensis) is a hummingbird that is found solely on Isla Róbinson Crusoe, one of a three-island archipelago belonging to Chile. It is 350 miles off the coast. It is non-migratory and shares the island with its smaller relative the Green-backed Firecrown.

The Juan Fernández Firecrown arguably shows the greatest degree of sexual dimorphism found among hummingbirds. Unlike in most hummingbirds, where females simply lack the ornamental plumage of the males, in S. fernandensis they are also brilliantly-colored, but differ so much from males that in the 19th century they were thought to be different species until a nest was discovered with one of each sex.

Juan Fernandez Firecrown (Sephanoides fernandensis) ©WikiC

The male is 11.5–12 cm long and weighs 10.9 g. Its color is mostly cinnamon orange, excepting dark grey wings, black bill, and iridescent gold crown.

Juan Fernandez Firecrown (Sephanoides fernandensis) ©Flickr Island Conservation

The female is 10 cm long and weighs 6.8 g. Its underparts are white with a dappling of very small green and black areas; the crown is iridescent blue, and upperparts are blue-green.

(Information from Wikipedia)