Species profile
About this species
The Tufted Coquette is a tiny hummingbird native to Trinidad, Tobago, Guyana, Venezuela & northern Brazil. The male is particularly striking, featuring a vibrant rufous crest & distinctive elongated spotted tufts on the sides of its neck, alongside iridescent green plumage. Despite its small size, it is an energetic & conspicuous species often seen feeding at flowering plants.
Found in forest edges, clearings, gardens & secondary growth in tropical lowland areas, particularly where flowering plants are abundant. In Trinidad it frequents cultivated gardens as well as woodland margins.
Where to photograph
Where our trips feature this species
You can photograph Tufted Coquette with us in Trinidad & Tobago.
These departures are part of our South America programme.
In the field, David Miles helps guests make the most of these encounters.
Field notes
Photography notes
Early morning is best for activity & light quality. The Trinidad trip in April (late dry season into early wet season) coincides with good flowering & high hummingbird activity, making late April an excellent time to photograph this species.
Position yourself near flowering plants such as Heliconia or garden blooms where Tufted Coquettes regularly feed, as this gives you a predictable subject & a colourful background. Use a fast shutter speed of at least 1/2000s to freeze the rapid wingbeats & capture sharp detail in the iridescent plumage. On the Trinidad trip in late April, morning light is ideal - arrive early at known feeding sites to catch the best light & most active feeding behaviour.
Available holidays
Trips featuring Tufted Coquette
The holidays below are pulled from the same species relationship, so the guide stays tied to live departures rather than becoming a static article.