The Story
This juvenile White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) perched in profile on a green stem at Mirador Barlovento above Pradera, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, in the Andean foothills, in golden late-afternoon light. Iridescent green scales cover its head and back, fine green speckling forms a mosaic across its throat and breast, and its white belly and boldly patterned tail complete the look. Its long, slightly curved bill and dark eye stand out against the soft forest background. The species ranges from Mexico through Central America into northern South America. IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
I made this frame from about 4 meters with a Canon R5 and the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L, at 1/1500 sec, f/6.7, ISO 3200. Mirador Barlovento sits above Pradera on the western flank of the Cordillera Central.
©2026 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) belongs to the family Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2021), with the population trend listed as decreasing. Source: IUCN Red List
