She spent her time in British service on the North American station based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

During the War of 1812, Colibri served mostly in blockading the American coast and capturing privateers and merchant ships.

Between 1 October and 14 December 1808, Colibri was under the command of lieutenant de vaisseau Deslandes, who sailed her from Havre to Cherbourg.

She was sailing from Cherbourg with a cargo of 570 barrels of flour and a great quantity of gunpowder intended for the relief of San Domingo.

[a] On 15 March 1811, Colibri captured the American slaver Carolina (alias Atrevido) off Amelia Island with some 200 slaves.

Atrevido, Ponce de Leon, master, was sailing from Loanga to Amelia Island; Colibri sent her into Nassau.

[7] Later, the Vice Admiralty Court in Bermuda appears to have decided that the vessel's putative Spanish nationality was fraudulent and that she was, in fact, American.

[11] On 28 June 1812 Colibri was despatched from Halifax under a flag of truce to New York, carrying news that the Orders in Council had been repealed.

On 9 July she anchored off Sandy-Hook, and three days later sailed on her return with a copy of the declaration of war, the British ambassador, Mr. Foster, and consul, Colonel Barclay.

On 19 July Colibrie recaptured Fanny, Colleton, master, which had been sailing from Port Glasgow to St Johns when originally captured.

[12] On 23 July Colibri captured the U.S. privateer sloop Gleaner, of Kennebunk, Maine, off Cape Sable.

[21] On 13 August Colibri shared with Maidstone, Spartan and Indian in the capture of the American vessel John.

However, Statira had to divide up her portion because she was in a prize-money sharing agreement with Colibri, Dragon, and San Domingo.

Thomson and his officers and crew were subsequently acquitted of any wrongdoing at the court martial into the loss of Colibri.