The
scintillant hummingbird (
Selasphorus scintilla) is a species of
hummingbird that is
endemic to the Central American countries of Costa Rica and Panama. It inhabits brushy forest edges, coffee plantations and occasionally gardens at altitudes from 900 to 2,000 metres (3,000 to 6,600 ft), and up to 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) when not breeding. It is only 6.5 to 8.0 centimetres (2.6 to 3.1 in) long, including the bill, making it one of the smallest birds in existence, marginally larger than the
bee hummingbird. This female scintillant hummingbird was photographed in the
cloud forest of Mount Totumas in Panama.
Photograph credit: Charles J. Sharp