Plain-capped Starthroat is normally resident from southern Sonora, Mexico to northern Costa Rica. It strays casually to southern Arizona in summer and early fall, chiefly to elevations between 4,000 and 5,000 feet. While birders most often find them at feeders, the species prefers hawking insects to taking nectar. They are also attracted to blooming century plants. The first Arizona (and U.S.) record was at a Nogales feeder, 20-30 September 1969. The third record, at Phoenix 17 October-28 November 1978 represents the farthest north and latest fall record for Arizona.

Prior to the discovery of the bird pictured here, the only other Starthroat found north of the Santa Rita Mountains was at Sabino Canyon in northeast Tucson.

This bird, found at Roy P. Drachman Agua Caliente Park in northeast Tucson by Richard Carlson on 5 June 2007 is unusual for several reasons: there is only one earlier record (10 May 1987 in the Chiricahua Mountains), it is only the second one documented in Pima County and the third north of the Santa Rita Mountains, and it is one of the few found at such a low elevation (about 2,700 feet) and away from feeders.

Because of its rarity in Arizona (less than annual, fewer than 20 documented records) and potential for misidentification, it is an Arizona Bird Committee Review Species. This photo was taken on 9 June 2007 by Oliver Niehuis and has been forwarded to the Arizona Bird Committee for consideration and archiving. The photo shows the key identification features: long bill relative to body length, bold facial stripes, diagnostic white rump patch and a hint of the white flank patch. Size can't be judged from the photo alone, but it is a large hummingbird.