- Colibri coruscans
Identification
13-14cm (5-5½ in); tail 6cm (2¼ in)
- Metallic green upperparts
- Green underparts
- Blue stomach
- White vent
- Bluish-purple near ears which meet under the bill
- iridescent green tail with a blue band
- Black down curved bill
Sexes are similar
Similar species
Distribution
South America: found in Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Argentina.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized[1]:
- C. c. germanus:
- C. c. coruscans:
An additional subspecies rostratus is not recognised by all authorities[2].
Habitat
Coniferous or evergreen eucalyptus forest edges, open woodland, plantations, gardens, and plains areas.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet consists of nectar from a wide variety of flowers and also insects caught in flight.
Breeding
The tiny, cup-shaped nest, is constructed from twigs and other plant material. The clutch consists of 2 eggs, which are incubated by the female for 17-18 days. The young fledge after three weeks.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Birdforum thread discussing id of Violetears
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved December 2016)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Sparkling Violetear. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 15 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Sparkling_Violetear
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
