Cinnamon Hummingbird

CINNAMON HUMMINGBIRD – (Amazilia rutila)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Amazilia
Species: A. rutila

The Cinnamon hummingbird is native to Central America and parts of Mexico.
Its range extends from southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

The Cinnamon hummingbird is rooted in the name “Amazilia”, a French novel legend and “rutila” or rutilus meaning red or warm radiance.

Male
Cinnamon Hummingbirds:

The male Cinnamon hummingbird is named for its overall cinnamon-colored plumage, which ranges from rich reddish-brown to cinnamon-orange on its upperparts, wings, and tail. 

Unlike most hummingbirds, the Cinnamon hummingbird does not display an iridescent gorget or ear patch marking.
He sports an army green helmet of head feathers, called a crown.

Their throat is a light cinnamon or buff color, sometimes with a metallic green or blue iridescence.
The underparts are generally a light shade of cinnamon, fading to a pale buff or white on the belly.

Their backs are a forest green with chocolate brown wings.
They have a red bill with a black tip.
They weigh between 5 to 5.5 grams and have lengths ranging from 3.7 inches to 4.5 inches.

A quick glance from behind, these hummingbirds closely resemble and are often confused with the Buff-bellied and Rufous-tailed hummingbirds.

Female
Cinnamon Hummingbirds: 

The female Cinnamon hummingbird is less vibrant looking than the males and usually do not have iridescent feathers. 

She has a greenish back, pale or speckled throat, and warm cinnamon tones on the belly and flanks.
Her tail may have rufous or white-tipped edges with a long, slender, slightly curved dark beak.

They cross breed and form a hybrid species with the Buff-bellied hummingbird. 

Read my article:
Hummingbird Parents: (Mating to Nesting)

Juvenile
Cinnamon Hummingbirds:

Both male and female juvenile Cinnamon hummingbirds look more like the adult females until they are differentiated as the male begins to acquire the iridescent feathers that are typical of this species of hummingbird. 

It has a greenish back, pale or lightly speckled throat, warm cinnamon belly, and rufous-toned tail with white tips.
Its beak is slender but shorter than an adult’s.

As juveniles molt into their first full set of feathers, the fluffy white undertail coverts become visible. These feathers are a distinguishing feature and are often more prominent due to their soft texture.

Baby
Cinnamon Hummingbirds:

Baby Cinnamon hummingbirds are tiny and naked covered in soft down with hints of cinnamon emerging as feathers develop. 

It has closed or barely open eyes and a short beak. Dependent on its mother, it stays in a small, cup-shaped nest, fed regurgitated nectar and insects for growth.

Read my article:
Baby Hummingbirds: (Egg to Fledgling)

Note: Even though this hummingbird has fluffy white undertail coverts, he has a short tail suggesting he is still an older baby and not an adolescent.

Hear the sounds of the Cinammon hummingbird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology link).

Cinnamon hummingbirds inhabit a variety of habitats, including tropical forests, woodlands, scrublands, gardens, and parks. 

Highly active and agile fliers, they are often found near flowering plants, which provide a crucial food source of nectar.
These hummingbirds are adaptable and thrive in both lowland and mountainous regions.

Cinnamon hummingbirds are known for their territorial behavior, particularly around feeding areas or favorite perches. They aggressively chase away other hummingbirds or even larger birds that encroach on their territory.

See my article:
Why Hummingbirds Chase Each Other: Is it Friend or Foe?