White-Necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Also known as: Collared Hummingbird, Great Jacobin

About This Species

This large, boldly patterned hummingbird favours the edges of humid lowland and foothill forest across northern South America and Central America, where it feeds on flowering shrubs, trees and vines, often defending a patch of blooms aggressively against other hummingbirds. Males have a distinctive white nape band and dark blue throat that flash in good light as they hover to feed. Watching flowering vegetation at forest edges or gardens in the morning, when nectar is freshest, gives the best views.

Ethical Viewing Guidelines

Hummingbirds habituate readily to feeders and flowering plants, so a distance of 2-3 metres from an established feeding station is usually unproblematic, though sudden movement or noise can still cause birds to flee.
Protection of native birds varies across the countries in its range, so check local wildlife law rather than assuming uniform rules, and avoid handling birds or interfering with nests.
Do not attempt to touch or hand-feed wild hummingbirds, even where they appear tame.

LCAvesApodiformesTrochilidae

Seasonal Activity

242,247 sightings · 2000–2026

Citizen science records via GBIF

All monthsThis month

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae

Photo

CC-BY-4.0

Occurrence data from GBIF.