Photo: Jerry Oldenettel / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Plain-capped Starthroat
Heliomaster constantii
Plain-capped Starthroat (Heliomaster constantii) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Plain-capped Starthroat (Heliomaster constantii) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 7.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Heliomaster
- Species constantii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.3 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Plain-capped Starthroat is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Plain-capped Starthroat is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Plain-capped Starthroat (Heliomaster constantii) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA w.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7.3 g, with a wing length of about 6.3 cm and a tail of around 3.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 555,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Plain-capped Starthroat?
The Plain-capped Starthroat is a very small bird that weighs around 7.3 g.
Where does the Plain-capped Starthroat live?
The Plain-capped Starthroat is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA w, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Plain-capped Starthroat belong to?
The Plain-capped Starthroat (Heliomaster constantii) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Plain-capped Starthroat eat?
The Plain-capped Starthroat is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Plain-capped Starthroat migrate?
The Plain-capped Starthroat is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Plain-capped Starthroat endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Plain-capped Starthroat make?
1 real field recording of the Plain-capped Starthroat — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Plain-capped Starthroat's range?
The Plain-capped Starthroat has a mapped global range of about 555,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Hummingbird Feeders
How to choose a hummingbird feeder — the two main styles compared, the right sugar-water mix, and how to keep it clean so the birds stay safe. A decision framework with the hummingbird species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Trochilidae
A field guide to the Trochilidae family — 366 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.