Sparkling Violetear
Colibri coruscans
Large aggressive hummingbird that usually dominates feeders or flower patches. Sparkling green overall with purplish-blue patches on cheeks and belly. Sexes alike. Larger than Lesser Violetear, and that species lacks the purple belly. Common and widespread in the Andes. Uses open habitats, including forest edge, shrubby agricultural land, and towns and cities. Found from 400–4,500 m; most common from the subtropical zone up to high elevation scrub and dry valleys, but also wanders low into foothills. Listen for the incessant song, a never-ending series of metallic chip notes.
Identification
The sparkling violetear is the largest violetear at 13 to 14 cm (5 to 5.5 in) long. Male birds weigh 5.8 to 8.5 g (0.20 to 0.30 oz) and females 6 to 7.5 g (0.21 to 0.26 oz). The nominate male's upperparts are metallic bluish green, the chin bluish violet, the belly blue, and the rest of the underparts green. Long erectile bluish violet plumes cover the ears. The tail is metallic green with a steely blue band near the end. Females are similar but smaller, and often have a white spot behind the eye. C. c. germanus is essentially the same as the nominate but the forehead, underparts, and tail are somewhat bluer.
Taxonomy
The sparkling violetear has two subspecies, the nominate C. c. coruscans and C. c. germanus. Other subspecies have been proposed to be separated from those two but that treatment has not been widely accepted.
- Scientific name
- Colibri coruscans
- Authority
- (Gould, 1846)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Colibri
Range and habitat
The nominate subspecies of sparkling violetear is widely distributed. It is found in Venezuela's Sierra de Perijá, Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and the Andes from Venezuela through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia into northern Chile and northwestern Argentina. C. c. germanus is found on the tepuis of southern Venezuela, western Guyana, and the adjacent Brazilian state of Roraima. The species inhabits a variety of open landscapes including the edges of subtropical and temperate forest, woodland, gardens, city parks, and páramo. In elevation it mostly ranges from 1,000 to 4,500 m (3,300 to 14,800 ft).
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
Migration pattern: Vertical migration.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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