Lesser violetear

Last updated

Lesser violetear
Lesser violetear (Colibri cyanotus cabanidis).jpg
C. c. cabanidis, Panama
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Clade: Strisores
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Colibri
Species:
C. cyanotus
Binomial name
Colibri cyanotus
(Bourcier, 1843)
Subspecies

See text

Colibri cyanotus map.svg

The lesser violetear (Colibri cyanotus), also known as the mountain violet-ear, is a medium-sized, metallic green hummingbird species commonly found in forested areas from Costa Rica to northern South America. This species and the Mexican violetear were formerly considered as conspecific and named the 'green violetear'.

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

The lesser violetear belongs to the order Apodiformes. Hummingbirds share this order with the swifts, such as the white-collared swift. The name Apodiformes is derived from the Greek words "a pous", meaning "without foot". While apodiforms do in fact have feet, they are quite small and their legs are short and relatively weak. Many birds in this order cannot walk, and thus rarely if ever land on the ground since quick escape from predators is virtually impossible. For this reason members of this order spend a majority of their time in the air.

Subspecies

The lesser violetear has four sub-species:

Description

The lesser violetear is roughly medium-sized by hummingbird standards. It averages around 9.7 to 12 cm (3.8 to 4.7 in) in total length. Its bill is black and mostly straight with only a slight downward curve and measures from 1.8 to 2.5 cm (0.71 to 0.98 in). [2] [3] The body mass can vary from 4.8 to 5.6 g (0.17 to 0.20 oz). [4] Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 5.8 to 6.8 cm (2.3 to 2.7 in) and the tail is 3.5 to 4.3 cm (1.4 to 1.7 in). [5] It is shining green above with a glittering violet ear-patch on the sides of its neck. Its throat and chest are a more glittering green with a shining green belly. The tail is a metallic blue-green with more bronzy central feathers and a prominent black subterminal band.

Vocalizations

Solitary males sing from high, exposed twigs in their territory every day. Their song is a monotonously repeated sharp and dry “tsu-tzeek” at a rate of about one call per second.

Distribution and habitat

Distribution

The lesser violetear breeds from the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama; mountains of northern Venezuela, and the Andes from western Venezuela to western Bolivia.

Habitat

Common habitats for the lesser violetear are in the canopy and borders of subtropical and lower temperate forest, secondary woodland and scrub, and clearings and gardens in the subtropical zone on both slopes of the Andes. It is recorded mostly between altitudes of 1,200 to 2,300 m (3,900 to 7,500 ft), though they will sometimes wander as far down as 500 m (1,600 ft) in search of food sources. It generally prefers more humid and high-altitude areas, such as cloud forests, than the similar sparkling violetear and is completely absent from the central valley where the sparkling violetear is most prevalent. However, the two species will sometimes be seen in the same areas feeding at flowering Inga trees.

Behavior and ecology

Diet

The lesser violetear forages alone but tends to gather at flowering trees, especially coffee-shade Inga . They feed at mid-level to canopy and often hold and defend a feeding territory. They primarily feed on nectar and small insects. The lesser violetear has been recorded as attaining the greatest flying speed ever recorded for a hummingbird, with a pair of birds having attained 90 mph (140 km/h) during a chase, although other species may be able to attain similar speeds. [6]

Breeding

Like most hummingbirds, the lesser violetear is a solitary nester. The male's only involvement in the breeding process is to attract and mate with the female. The female is then responsible for choosing a nest location, generally on a low, small horizontal branch in a protected area. The nest is small and built from various plant materials, spider webs, and down woven together to form a sturdy cup structure. Two small white eggs are laid within the nest and the female incubates them on her own. Incubation time is 14–18 days. Hatchlings are primarily fed insects due to high nutritional requirements. No information was found on the length of the nestling stage or age at fledgling. Breeding takes place through the wet season into the early dry season, which varies by latitude. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican violetear</span> Species of bird

The Mexican violetear is a medium-sized, metallic green hummingbird species commonly found in forested areas from Mexico to Nicaragua. This species, together with the lesser violetear were previously considered conspecific, and together called the green violetear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous-tailed hummingbird</span> Species of bird

The rufous-tailed hummingbird is a medium-sized hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found from east-central Mexico through Central America and Colombia into Ecuador and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown violetear</span> Species of bird

The brown violetear is a large hummingbird that breeds at middle elevations in the mountains in Central America, and western and northern South America with isolated populations on Trinidad and in the Brazilian state Bahia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green thorntail</span> Species of hummingbird

The green thorntail is a small hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Band-tailed barbthroat</span> Species of hummingbird

The band-tailed barbthroat is a medium-sized hummingbird that is found from southeastern Guatemala and Belize to western Ecuador and western Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronze-tailed plumeleteer</span> Species of hummingbird

The bronze-tailed plumeleteer is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Panama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green-crowned brilliant</span> Species of hummingbird

The green-crowned brilliant is species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama. It is also known as the green-fronted brilliant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Violetear</span> Genus of birds

The violetears are hummingbirds of the genus Colibri. They are medium to large species found in Mexico, and Central and northern South America. The Mexican violetear occasionally wanders as far north as the United States and even Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronzy hermit</span> Species of hummingbird

The bronzy hermit is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sparkling violetear</span> Species of hummingbird

The sparkling violetear is a species of hummingbird widespread in highlands of northern and western South America, including a large part of the Andes, the Venezuelan Coastal Range, and the Tepuis. It occurs in a wide range of semi-open habitats, even in gardens and parks within major cities such as Quito, and is often the most common species of hummingbird in its range. It is highly vocal and territorial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangrove hummingbird</span>

The mangrove hummingbird is an Endangered species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is endemic to Costa Rica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snowy-bellied hummingbird</span>

The snowy-bellied hummingbird, also known as snowy-breasted hummingbird, is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in mostly in Costa Rica and Panama with a few records in Colombia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-vented violetear</span> Species of hummingbird

The white-vented violetear is a species of hummingbird in the subfamily Polytminae, the mangoes. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-tipped sicklebill</span> Species of hummingbird

The white-tipped sicklebill is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-throated goldentail</span> Species of bird

The blue-throated goldentail, also known as the blue-throated sapphire, is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and heavily degraded former forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Violet-headed hummingbird</span> Species of bird

The violet-headed hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is the only species in the genus Klais.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sapphire-throated hummingbird</span> Species of bird

The sapphire-throated hummingbird is a shiny metallic-green hummingbird found in Panama, Colombia, and more recently Costa Rica. The sapphire-throated hummingbird is separated into three subspecies; Chrysuronia coeruleogularis coeruleogularis, Chrysuronia coeruleogularis coelina, and Chrysuronia coeruleogularis conifis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-billed cacique</span> Species of bird

The yellow-billed cacique is a species of cacique in the family Icteridae. It is monotypic within the genus Amblycercus. There is some question as to whether or not it is a true cacique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple-throated fruitcrow</span> Species of bird

The purple-throated fruitcrow is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae, the cotingas. It is the only species of the genus Querula. It is native to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and most of the northern half of South America, its habitat being humid lowland forest where it feeds mainly on insects and fruit. It is a glossy black, medium-sized bird and the male has a purple-red throat patch. It nests in close vicinity with other birds of its species. Its population is in decline, but it is a common species with a very wide range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowned woodnymph</span> Species of hummingbird

The crowned woodnymph or violet-crowned woodnymph is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found from Belize and Guatemala to northern Peru.

References

  1. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  2. Hilty, S.L.; Brown, W.L. (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN   978-0691083728.
  3. Howell, S.N.G.; Webb, S. (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America . New York, New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0198540120.
  4. Weske, J.S. (1972). The distribution of the avifauna in the Apurimac Valley of Peru with respect to environmental gradients, habitat, and related species (Ph.D.). Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma.
  5. Wetmore, A. (1968). The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 2. Columbidae (pigeons) to Picidae (woodpeckers). Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. Vol. 150, part 2. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  6. Wood, Gerald (1983). The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats . Guinness Superlatives. ISBN   978-0-85112-235-9.
  7. Hobbs, Mo; Arizmendi, M.C.; Rodríguez-Flores, C.; Soberanes-González, C. (2011). Schulenberg, T.S. (ed.). "Green Violetear (Colibri thalassinus)". Neotropical Birds Online. Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology.