Canonical URL: https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/fiery-throated-hummingbird/ Species photography guide # Fiery-throated Hummingbird Photography Holidays *Panterpe insignis* Explore our Fiery-throated Hummingbird photography holidays in [Costa Rica](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/central-america/costa-rica/), shaped around patient, repeatable field sessions with this species during the dry season from December to April.Our small-group photography holidays prioritise time in the field, light, behaviour, positioning & repeatable photographic opportunities rather than rushed wildlife viewing. [View trips](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/fiery-throated-hummingbird/#nl-species-trips)[Where](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/fiery-throated-hummingbird/#nl-species-where)[Field notes](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/fiery-throated-hummingbird/#nl-species-field-notes)[Related species](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/fiery-throated-hummingbird/#nl-species-related) ![Fiery-throated Hummingbird photography holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/a-keel-billed-toucan-typical-of-the-kind-of-image-we-hope-you-will-capture-during-our-costa-rican-wildlife-photography-holiday-1024x683.jpg) ## At a glance Trips6 associated holidays Where[Costa Rica](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/central-america/costa-rica/) Led by[David Miles](https://natureslens.co.uk/about/david/) Species profile ## About this species The Fiery-throated Hummingbird is a striking medium-sized hummingbird endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica & western Panama. It is renowned for its spectacular iridescent plumage, featuring a brilliant multicoloured throat that shimmers with hues of orange, blue, & green depending on the angle of light. The species is highly territorial & active, frequently engaging in aggressive aerial displays to defend feeding territories. **Habitat** This species inhabits montane cloud forests & forest edges at elevations typically ranging from 1500m to 3500m above sea level, particularly in areas with abundant flowering plants. It is commonly found in the Chiriqui Highlands & along the Cordillera de Talamanca in Costa Rica & Panama. [Species background](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiery-throated_hummingbird) Where to photograph ## Where our trips feature this species You can photograph Fiery-throated Hummingbird with us in [Costa Rica](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/central-america/costa-rica/). These departures are part of our [Central America](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/central-america/) programme. In the field, [David Miles](https://natureslens.co.uk/about/david/) helps guests make the most of these encounters. Field notes ## Photography notes **Best time** The best time to photograph this species is during the dry season from December to April when the birds are most active & accessible. Early morning hours between 7am & 10am are ideal, as the hummingbirds are highly active feeding & defending territories during this period. **Approach** Use a fast shutter speed of at least 1/2000s to freeze the rapid wingbeats & capture sharp detail in the iridescent throat plumage. Position yourself near flowering plants such as Cirsium or Centropogon that the bird regularly visits, & pre-focus on a favoured perch or flower to anticipate its approach. Overcast conditions can reduce harsh shadows, but direct sunlight at the correct angle is essential for revealing the full iridescent colour of the throat gorget. Connected wildlife ## Often seen on the same trips On the trips associated with this species, photographers may also encounter: [Basilisk Lizard](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/basilisk-lizard/)[Blue Jeans Poison Dart Frog](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/blue-jeans-poison-dart-frog/)[Chestnut-headed Oropendola](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/chestnut-headed-oropendola/)[Chestnut-mandibled Toucan](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/chestnut-mandibled-toucan/)[Collared Aracari](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/collared-aracari/)[Emerald Toucanet](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/emerald-toucanet/)[Glass Frog](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/glass-frog/)[Great Kiskadee](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/great-kiskadee/)[Green Iguana](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/green-iguana/)[Hoffmann's Woodpecker](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/hoffmanns-woodpecker/) Available holidays ## Trips featuring Fiery-throated Hummingbird The holidays below are pulled from the same species relationship, so the guide stays tied to live departures rather than becoming a static article. #### Guide connection David Miles leads trips where guests have the chance to photograph Fiery-throated Hummingbird in the field. [Meet David](https://natureslens.co.uk/about/david/) ![Essential Costa Rican Wildlife](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/a-keel-billed-toucan-typical-of-the-kind-of-image-we-hope-you-will-capture-during-our-costa-rican-wildlife-photography-holiday-1024x683.jpg) #### Related holiday Essential Costa Rican Wildlife gives guests time in Costa Rica where Fiery-throated Hummingbird can be part of the day's wildlife encounters. [View trip](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/costa-rica/essential-costa-rican-wildlife-2026/) Route Destination Signature Destination Photographing Fiery-throated Hummingbird One of the most spectacular hummingbirds in the Americas, & one of the most demanding to photograph well. The throat of the Fiery-throated Hummingbird is a patchwork of iridescent copper, gold, blue, & violet that only reveals its full brilliance in direct frontal light at precisely the right angle – from the wrong position it reads as plain dark. Confined to cloud-forest edges above 1,200 metres in the Costa Rican highlands, it rewards a purposeful visit to the right elevation with images that are almost impossible to capture elsewhere. Where NaturesLens Takes You NaturesLens photographs the Fiery-throated Hummingbird on its Costa Rica cloud-forest trips, visiting garden feeders & flowering treelines in the Cerro de la Muerte highlands & Poás-area cloud forest. Dawn light on the Pacific-facing slopes produces the most dramatic colour rendering on the multi-toned gorget. Photography Technique & Gear Position yourself so the sun strikes the gorget head-on – this transforms a dark-throated bird into something incandescent. Shoot at 1/2000 s or faster in burst mode, as perching positions rarely last. A 300-500mm zoom at f/5.6-f/7.1 provides enough depth of field to keep bill & throat simultaneously sharp. Moving your position even 30° sideways can make or break the image: angle of light is everything. The photography holidays listed below operate in regions & habitats where the Fiery-throated Hummingbird is regularly encountered. As with all wildlife photography, sightings can never be guaranteed, but our itineraries are designed around seasonal behaviour, suitable habitat, & photographic opportunity, giving you the best possible chance of meaningful encounters in the field. Our small-group approach allows time in the field to adapt to conditions, behaviour, & photographic opportunities as they unfold. You can photograph the Fiery-throated Hummingbird in Costa Rica. During our photography holidays, the Fiery-throated Hummingbird is often photographed alongside Basilisk Lizard, Blue Jeans Poison Dart Frog, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Collared Aracari, & Emerald Toucanet. Seasonal presence & photographic opportunity vary by location & time of year. Photography themes commonly associated with this species include amphibian macro photography, Costa Rican photography, Costa Rican wildlife, frog photography, macro photography of flowers, insects & other miniature flora & fauna, & macro photography subjects. Single occupancy Group Size: 5-6 guests Experienced guidance 6 departures - [![Join Us For The Essential Costa Rican Wildlife Photography Tour](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/a-keel-billed-toucan-typical-of-the-kind-of-image-we-hope-you-will-capture-during-our-costa-rican-wildlife-photography-holiday-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/costa-rica/essential-costa-rican-wildlife-2026/) Limited Places ### 21st - 28th Nov 2026 - Essential Costa Rican Wildlife **Location:** Costa Rica Join us in Costa Rica for a wildlife photography holiday in Costa Rica, during November 2026, focused on core Costa Rica species across key rainforest habitats. **7 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **Was: £4249 Now: £3499** Guided By **David Miles** [View Essential Costa Rican Wildlife](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/costa-rica/essential-costa-rican-wildlife-2026/) - [![Join Us For The Ultimate Costa Rican Wildlife Photography Tour](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/a-red-eyed-tree-frog-sat-on-a-leaf-in-the-jungle-typical-of-the-kind-of-image-we-hope-you-will-capture-during-our-costa-rican-wildlife-photography-holiday-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/costa-rica/ultimate-costa-rican-wildlife/) Full ### 1st - 17th Dec 2026 - Ultimate Costa Rican Wildlife **Location:** Costa Rica Travel to Costa Rica with us for a wildlife photography tour, which boasts an itinerary that allows extended time photographing Costa Rica's rainforest icons. **16 nights** w. **Single occupancy** - **Full** Guided By **David Miles** [View Ultimate Costa Rican Wildlife](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/costa-rica/ultimate-costa-rican-wildlife/) - [![Join Us For The Wildlife Icons of Costa Rica Photography Tour](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/A-Keel-billed-Toucan-opens-his-beak-typical-of-the-kind-of-image-we-hope-you-will-capture-during-our-Costa-Rican-Wildlife-photography-holiday-for-hero-1024x768.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/costa-rica/icons-of-costa-rica-2027/) Full ### 23rd Apr - 4th May 2027 - Wildlife Icons of Costa Rica **Location:** Costa Rica Explore the itinerary for an amazing wildlife photography holiday in Costa Rica, April 2027, focused on some Costa Rica's signature species across key habitats. **11 nights** w. **Single occupancy** - **Full** Guided By **David Miles** [View Wildlife Icons of Costa Rica](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/costa-rica/icons-of-costa-rica-2027/) - [![Join Us For The Ultimate Costa Rican Wildlife Photography Tour](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/a-red-eyed-tree-frog-sat-on-a-leaf-in-the-jungle-typical-of-the-kind-of-image-we-hope-you-will-capture-during-our-costa-rican-wildlife-photography-holiday-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/costa-rica/ultimate-costa-rican-wildlife-2027/) ### 30th Nov - 16th Dec 2027 - Ultimate Costa Rican Wildlife **Location:** Costa Rica Travel to Costa Rica with us for a wildlife photography tour, which boasts an itinerary that allows extended time photographing Costa Rica's rainforest icons. **16 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **£6999** Guided By **David Miles** [View Ultimate Costa Rican Wildlife](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/costa-rica/ultimate-costa-rican-wildlife-2027/) - [![Join Us For The Essential Costa Rican Wildlife Photography Tour](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/a-keel-billed-toucan-typical-of-the-kind-of-image-we-hope-you-will-capture-during-our-costa-rican-wildlife-photography-holiday-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/costa-rica/essential-costa-rican-wildlife/) ### 16th - 23rd Dec 2027 - Essential Costa Rican Wildlife **Location:** Costa Rica Join us in Costa Rica for a wildlife photography holiday in Costa Rica, during December 2027, focused on core Costa Rica species across key rainforest habitats. **7 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **£4499** Guided By **David Miles** [View Essential Costa Rican Wildlife](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/costa-rica/essential-costa-rican-wildlife/) - [![Join Us For The Wildlife Icons of Costa Rica Photography Tour](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/A-Keel-billed-Toucan-opens-his-beak-typical-of-the-kind-of-image-we-hope-you-will-capture-during-our-Costa-Rican-Wildlife-photography-holiday-for-hero-1024x768.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/costa-rica/wildlife-icons-of-costa-rica/) ### 6th - 17th May 2028 - Wildlife Icons of Costa Rica **Location:** Costa Rica Explore the itinerary for an amazing wildlife photography holiday in Costa Rica, May 2028, focused on some Costa Rica's signature species across key habitats. **11 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **£5999** Guided By **David Miles** [View Wildlife Icons of Costa Rica](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/costa-rica/wildlife-icons-of-costa-rica/) -