Green-fronted Lancebill

To capture the elusive Green-fronted Lancebill on your backyard or trail camera, you must focus on their love for water and vertical terrain. If your property features a stream, a waterfall, or even a damp stone wall with overhanging vegetation, this is the prime spot for placement. Mount your camera 4 to 6 feet high, angled toward mossy rock faces or hanging moss where they might search for nesting materials or insects. Because they are shy and prefer shaded areas, ensure your camera's sensor is sensitive enough for lower light conditions.

While traditional hummingbird feeders may attract them, they are more likely to visit native, long-tubed flowers. If you use a feeder as a lure, place it in a quiet, shaded corner near a water feature rather than in the open sun. To get the best results, set your camera to a fast trigger speed and high-speed burst mode; their darting movements are exceptionally quick, and a slow camera will result in a green blur. If your camera supports it, a shutter speed of 1/2000s or higher is ideal for freezing their wing motion.

Pay close attention to the morning light. The "glittering" green forehead patch that gives this bird its name is highly iridescent and only shows up when the light hits it at the right angle. Positioning your camera to catch the soft, early morning sun (which is less likely to blow out the highlights) will produce the most dramatic and colorful images. Because they are trap-liners, they often visit the same spots at the same time every day—once you spot one on camera, keep your settings ready for its return the next day.