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.
识别特征
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.
分类信息
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.
- 学名
- Colibri coruscans
- 命名信息
- (Gould, 1846)
- 目
- Apodiformes
- 科
- Trochilidae
- 属
- Colibri
分布与栖息地
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).
- 迁徙
- Vertical migration
行为
The páramo populations of sparking violear move to as low as 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in the dry season. Populations below the páramo are generally year-round residents though they may make short movements.<p>The sparkling violetear forages for nectar from a wide variety of flowering plants at all levels of the forest from the ground to the canopy. It also captures insects on the wing. It is very aggressive in most habitats, dominating all other hummingbirds while defending flowering trees, but aggression has not been observed in the páramo.<p>The sparkling violetear's breeding seasons vary across its range, from July through October in Venezuela to December through February in Argentina. The nest is a cup made of soft plant materials and decorated with lichens on its outside. It is placed on a horizontal branch, attached to a drooping twig, or sometimes in a cleft in rocks. The clutch size is two eggs. The incubation time is 17 to 18 days with fledging 20 to 22 days after hatch. Though some care of young by males has been reported, that behavior has not been confirmed.<p>The sparkling violetear is very vocal. Its principal song is "a long series of monosyllabic metallic chips, 'djit...djit...djit...' or 'tlik...tlik...tlik..'." It also sings "a medley of chips, squeals, gurgling sounds and short warbles" during aerial display. Its call is "a repeated short dry rattle 'drrr...drrr...'."
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- unknown
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
Palau Scops-Owl
Otus podarginus
A reddish-brown owl with a large rounded head, pale whitish eyebrows, and no ear tufts. Upperparts spotted with black-tipped white spots. Legs unfeathered and whitish. Found in a wide range of forest, mostly in lowlands, frequently near villages. No other owls occur on Palau. Voice includes a long series of deep “whok” notes rising in intensity, finishing in a sharp “quirt-quirt” whistle.
Sun Parakeet
Aratinga solstitialis
Striking parakeet, mostly yellow with a red-orange face, green wing coverts, and blue-green flight feathers. Occurs in savanna regions adjacent to tall forest and is often observed near forest edge or along rivers. Highly social and usually found in groups of up to several dozen individuals. Feeds on fruit and flowers, commuting long distances between food sources. Noisy, especially in flight; screeching calls are particularly grating and unlike any other parrot in range. Brown-throated Parakeets in early morning or late afternoon sunlight may appear to glow orange on the face and breast and are sometimes mistaken for Sun Parakeets; note Sun Parakeet’s very different calls and yellow color extending over the shoulders and back.
Gambel's Quail
Callipepla gambelii
Small and rotund with obvious teardrop-shaped plumes protruding from forehead. Looks gray and brown at a distance; look for buffy belly with a black patch. Males have black face and longer, more curled crest than females. Usually seen in flocks running on the ground in deserts, often close to dense thickets for cover. Well-accustomed to humans in many areas; a frequent visitor to feeders. Listen for loud wailing calls and various clucks and chuckles. Separated from similar California Quail by range; also note Gambel’s lacks scaly pattern on belly and has brighter chestnut-colored crown and sides.
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