Green-crowned brilliant Jun 17, 2024

Green-crowned brilliant

Let"s celebrate the small heroes who help plants flourish! The green-crowned brilliant hummingbird in today"s image, also known as the green-fronted brilliant, inhabits Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and Panama. They usually feed in the middle and upper layers of the forest. Adult males of this striking species, belonging to the nominate subspecies, boast a mesmerising plumage: their heads and breasts shimmer in shades of green to blue-green, accentuated by a vivid, metallic violet-blue patch at their throats. These tiny jewels of the forest measure between 11 to 12 in length and tip the scales at a mere 8 - 9.5 grams. Their favourite nectar comes from the Marcgravia vines. Should we care? Absolutely! From fruits and veggies to nuts, chocolate or sugarcane, there are plenty of ingredients in our diet that are brought to us by these pollinators.

© adrian hepworth/Alamy

palette

Today in History

Jun 17, 2025Maritime forest in Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jul 30, 2025Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain
Dec 10, 2024Lands End, Cornwall, England
Nov 18, 2024Porthcawl lighthouse, Wales
Feb 21, 2024Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Jan 2, 2025Ardez village, Graubunden, Switzerland
Feb 21, 2026Red fox, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, United States
Aug 26, 2025Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy
Jan 5, 2025Plum-headed parakeet
Jan 31, 2026Plains zebras, Etosha National Park, Namibia
Jan 27, 2026Dalmatian pelicans, Lake Kerkini, Greece
Jan 18, 2024Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France
Jan 2, 2026Aerial view of Venice, Italy
Jun 25, 2024Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, USA
Aug 30, 2025Whale shark
Jul 11, 2024Gangi, Sicily, Italy
Jun 8, 2024Confluence of Easter Creek and Killik River, Alaska, USA
Oct 22, 2023Astoria-Megler Bridge, Oregon, USA
Nov 5, 2024Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil
Dec 4, 2024Male white rhinoceroses
Feb 27, 2024Polar bear cubs
Dec 25, 2023Reindeer running in snow
Nov 5, 2024Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil
Nov 7, 2023Kirkilai lakes, Biržai Regional Park, Lithuania
Jan 3, 2026Staubbach Falls at Lauterbrunnen, Canton of Bern, Switzerland
Dec 25, 2024Lakes of Covadonga, Asturias, Spain
Oct 5, 2023Gentoo penguins, Antarctica
Feb 17, 2026Ochagavía, Navarre, Spain
Sep 2, 2023Allens hummingbird
Feb 27, 2025Polar bear cub, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Apr 11, 2024Dragon waterfall, Venezuela