Vibrant Frilled Coquette, Eastern Brazil’s tiny jewel with a bright orange crest, known for its unique appearance and gentle buzzing flight

A hummingbird that is characterized by its bright orange crest, delicate green and white feathers surrounding its neck, and a crimson beak that is contrastingly black at the tip.

On average, the frilled coq weighs 2.66 g (0.094 oz) and measures 7.1 to 7.7 cm (2.8 to 3.0 in) in length, making it one of the tiniest birds of the east. The males and females of this species both have a short, narrow red bill that is capped with black, bronze-grey underparts, a white band around the rumρ, and dark crescents. Nevertheless, adult males display a striking erectile crest that is reddish-oraćge in color, complemented with fan-shaped green feathers and white face feathers. Its front and throat are shimmery green with iridescent green toes, and the remainder of its body is grayish-grey. Having bronze-grey tips and edges, the remaining tail feathers are reddish, contrasting with the bronze-gree central feathers.

When compared to males, adult females are characterized by a grayish-grey underside, a white throat with reddish discs and dark crescents, and a crest and cheek tails.

Juveniles resemble adult females in appearance.

The frilled coquette is native to eastern and southern Brazil, ranging from southern Espírito Santo to Rio Grande do Sul and extending nearly to Bolivia and Paraguay. It is occasionally seen as far north as Alagoas.

Home to semi-open to open landscapes, it include areas such as secondary woods, coffee plantations, gardens, and closed forests. The elevation of its habitat ranges from sea level to as high as 1,000 meters (3,300 feet).

The food that this bird eats consists of insects and nectar from several little flowering plants. Unlike larger hoveringbirds, it catches insects by calling from perches situated 2 to 5 meters (7 to 20 feet) above ground.

Breeding: From August to March, frilled flirts are in their breeding season. The female typically grows a plant-covered mound, often adorned with liches, in the shape of a cup. The crown is often positioned 2 to 5 meters (7 to 20 feet) above ground level, often on the branch of a bush or small tree. The mother bird carries the eggs for around 12 to 13 days until they hatch, and the young birds begin to fly about 20 days after that.

While feeding, the frilled coquette produces a short “epeek” sound, although it is mostly silent. The bird makes a low, buzzing sound, like to a bee’s hoop, as it floats.

The frilled cotonette is considered a least concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), despite the fact that certain species within its population are endangered. It thrives in man-made habitats such as patios and flower gardens and is regarded as common. Furthermore, it is located in multiple protected zones.