Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis) ©WikiC

The Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis) is a medium-sized hummingbird which breeds only in the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama. It is the only member of the genus Panterpe.

This is a common to abundant bird of montane forest canopy above 1400 m, and also occurs in scrub at the woodland edges and clearings.

This bird is 11 cm long and weighs 5.7 g. It has a straight black bill and dusky feet.

Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis) by Judd Patterson

The adult fiery-throated hummingbird has shiny green body plumage, a blue tail, and a white spot behind the eye. It often looks dark, but when the light catches it at the right angle, it shows a brilliant blue crown, yellow-bordered bright orange throat, and violet-blue chest patch. The sexes are similar, but young birds have rufous fringes to the head plumage. The call is a high-pitched twittering.

Fiery-throated Hummingbird in Flight ©Raymond Barlow

The female fiery-throated hummingbird is entirely responsible for nest building and incubation. She lays two white eggs in a bulky plant-fibre cup nest 2–4 m high at the end of a descending bamboo stem or on a rootlet under a bank. Incubation takes 15–19 days, and fledging another 20-26.

Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis) Little color from side ©WikiC

The food of this species is nectar, taken from a variety of small flowers, including epiphytic Ericaceae and bromeliads. Like other hummingbirds it also takes small insects as an essential source of protein. Male fiery-throated hummingbirds defend flowers and scrubs in their feeding territories, and are dominant over most other hummingbirds. They will, however, allow females to share their food resources.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1 KJV)

God’s Good Recipe For Birds

The Family Circus Artist surely came up with a great truth in this one. God’s “recipe” was Creation. His [God’s] wisdom is evident in all of his creation, especially the birds.

“For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.” (Romans 8:22 NASB)

What would this beautiful Fiery-throated Hummer look like if it weren’t under the curse of man’s sin?

Fiery-throated Hummingbird Panterpe insignis – Internet Bird Collection

Fiery-throated Hummingbird – Wikipedia

Fiery-throated Hummingbird – Neotropical Birds