Chaplin's Barbet

This long-tailed beauty is Jamaica’s national bird along with Black-billed Streamertail, which is now considered a separate species. Male has a glittering green body, black crown, and red bill; younger males and molting birds may not have the signature tail streamers, giving them a somewhat different look. Female lacks the long tail and is similar to Black-billed Streamertail, but usually shows a pink tinge to the base of the lower part of her bill. Her relatively large size and longer bill help separate her from Vervain Hummingbird. Found in forest in most of the island except for the far east, where it is replaced by Black-billed Streamertail, and readily comes to feeders. Local names for this species include “doctor bird” and “swallow tail humming bird”.

Large and spectacular hummingbird found in the Andes of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. Plumage varies geographically, but all birds have bright chestnut on lower back, tail, belly, and wings, along with a green breast. Crown color ranges from rusty at the northern limit of its range to glittering green and blue farther south. Throat patch may be purple or blue and varies in size. Also note rather long bill. Female is duller than male and lacks throat patch and iridescence. Inhabits montane forest and scrub, and occasionally visits feeders.

Males is exquisitely patterned, with an unmistakable green-and-yellow facial pattern, spotted rose-pink breast, and long, drooping scapulars. Female mostly drab brown but with a distinct white spot near the bill base as well as a very weak hint of the male's facial pattern. Breeds in marshy woods and on the tundra. During the non-breeding season, gathers in groups of up to several thousand in marshes and estuaries in northeastern Asia; generally uncommon outside core wintering grounds.