Birds Active during the day

Canivet's Emerald

Cynanthus canivetii

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A shimmering jewel of Central American landscapes, Canivet's Emerald is a feisty hummingbird famous for its glittering green plumage and dramatic forked tail. A resident beauty, it brings a flash of emerald energy to backyard gardens from Mexico to Costa Rica.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

8-9 cm (3.1-3.5 in) in length; wingspan approx. 11 cm (4.3 in); weight 2.3-2.6 g (0.08-0.09 oz)

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Colors

Males are glittering emerald green with a deeply forked blue-black tail and a red bill with a black tip. Females are bronzy-green above and grayish-white below, featuring a dark ear patch and a white stripe behind the eye.

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Key Features

Deeply forked, blue-black tail in males
Glittering metallic green body plumage
Red bill with a distinct black tip
White post-ocular stripe behind the eye in females

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6:30-9:30 AM, 3:30-5:30 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily nectar from tubular flowers (such as Heliconia and Hibiscus) and small insects or spiders caught in flight for essential protein.

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Habitat Open woodlands, forest edges, humid to semi-arid scrub, and suburban gardens or parks.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Canivet's Emerald Live?

Native to the vibrant landscapes of Central America, Canivet's Emerald is a common resident of the tropical belt stretching from southeastern Mexico through the Pacific and Caribbean slopes. Its core range encompasses the diverse ecosystems of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, reaching its southern limit in the northwestern regions of Costa Rica. These hummingbirds are largely non-migratory, remaining in their colorful home territories year-round to take advantage of the region's perpetual flowering seasons.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

7 Countries

1.18M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

MX Mexico GT Guatemala BZ Belize HN Honduras SV El Salvador NI Nicaragua CR Costa Rica

Elevation range

0 m1,000 m2,000 m4,000 m

Sea level – 1,800 m

eco

iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

Canivet's Emeralds are high-energy, territorial hummingbirds known for their agile flight and bold personalities. Like many members of the emerald tribe, they are remarkably defensive over prime nectar sources, frequently engaging in high-speed mid-air chases to drive away competitors, including birds much larger than themselves. They are generally seen foraging at low to middle levels of the canopy, hovering momentarily before darting to the next blossom with characteristic precision.

While they are solitary foragers, they are frequently found in suburban gardens where flowering plants are abundant. They often employ a 'trap-lining' strategy, visiting a specific circuit of flowers throughout the day to ensure a steady supply of nectar. In social contexts, they are quite vocal, emitting dry, chattering 'tsip' calls while feeding or defending their territory, making them easy to locate by sound before they are seen.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture the stunning iridescent feathers of the Canivet's Emerald, position your AI camera near red or orange tubular flowers, which are their preferred nectar sources. If you use a hummingbird feeder, set your camera roughly 3 to 5 feet away, angled slightly downward to catch the light reflecting off the bird's back and deeply forked tail. Since these birds move with incredible speed, ensure your camera is set to its fastest trigger speed or 'Action' mode to avoid motion blur.

Lighting is the most critical factor for this species. Try to place your camera so that it faces a dark, shaded background while the target area (the flower or feeder) is bathed in direct natural sunlight. This high contrast helps the AI recognition software identify the small profile of the bird and ensures the glittering emerald green plumage doesn't get washed out by a bright sky. If your camera allows for close-up focus, aim for a focal point about 12-18 inches from the feeder port.

Because they are year-round residents, you can capture them in any season, but the dry season often yields more concentrated activity as natural water and nectar sources become scarcer. Setting up a shallow, moving water feature or a misting birdbath can provide unique footage, as these emeralds love to fly through fine mists to bathe. Mount your camera at eye level (about 4-5 feet high) to get the most intimate 'face-to-face' shots of their striking red and black bills.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Canivet's Emerald.

Cozumel Emerald

Endemic to Cozumel Island; significantly larger with a much longer, more exaggerated forked tail.

Blue-tailed Hummingbird

Tail is less deeply forked and appears more distinctly blue rather than blue-black; lacks the bright red bill base.

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Frequently Asked Questions

They are most active during the early morning and late afternoon, typically from sunrise until about 10 AM, and again in the two hours before dusk. This is when they 'trap-line' their favorite nectar sources.

Plant native tubular flowers like Salvia, Hibiscus, or Heliconia. They are also easily attracted to standard hummingbird feeders filled with a simple 4:1 water-to-sugar ratio solution.

Their diet consists mainly of sugar-rich nectar for energy and small insects or spiders for protein, which they catch mid-air or pick off of leaves.

Yes, they are highly adaptable and are frequent visitors to suburban gardens and city parks within their range, provided there are enough flowering plants and trees for perching.

Look for the male's very deep forked tail and glittering green body. Unlike many other emeralds, the Canivet's has a bright red bill with a black tip, which is a key field mark.

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