| Violet-bellied hummingbird | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Clade: | Strisores |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Chlorestes |
| Species: | C. julie |
| Binomial name | |
| Chlorestes julie (Bourcier, 1843) | |
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| Synonyms | |
Juliamyia julie, Damophila julie | |
The violet-bellied hummingbird (Chlorestes julie) is a species of hummingbird characterized by the male's shimmering violet belly. [3]
The scientific name of this bird is currently Chlorestes julie, however, it was previously described as Juliamyia julie. [4] Its genus being Chlorestes which is in the hummingbird family: Trochilidae. [5] This family belongs to the order Apodiformes which includes hummingbirds and swifts. [6] Within this species rank are three subspecies: panamensis, julie, and feliciana. [3] Each are only separated by very minute features. Chlorestes julie panamensis occurs in Panama and has a head the same dull metallic green color as its back. [4] Chlorestes julie julie and feliciana both have a brilliant green metallic back although julie has a shorter bill (14.5 mm) and a bluer belly whereas feliciana has a longer bill (15.1 mm) and a more violet belly. [4] While julie occurs in Northern Columbia, feliciana occurs in western Ecuador and the extremely northwestern parts of Peru. [3]
The violet-bellied hummingbird is characterized by the male's shimmering violet belly. [3] The rest of its body is just as brilliant; its back and crown being a metallic green. [3] The violet belly, however, is not shared between the sexes as this species exhibits sexual dimorphism. [7] The characteristics they do share include long, rounded tails, straight and short bills, and pink lower mandibles. [7] [3]
Adult:
Juvenile plumage has only been documented for immature males. They appear similar to an adult female although they may have some patches of violet on their belly or a sparkling green foreneck. [3] [7]
The molt pattern of this species is also yet to be described.
Violet-bellied hummingbirds are very easily confused with woodnymphs. [3] The green crowned woodnymph, in particular, has a similar color and shape and their ranges overlap. [9] To tell them apart, you must check their size, color, and tail; violet-bellied hummingbirds are smaller, their backs are green instead of violet, and their tails are rounded, not notched. [3] Green crowned woodnymphs also have a violet forecrown. [3] Another similar species is the Sapphire-throated Hummingbird because of its colors. [3] However, it has a blue throat, a green belly, and a notched tail. [3]
Violet-bellied hummingbirds are found in central Panama, through Columbia, extending to southwestern Ecuador and the extreme northwestern point of Peru. [3] Different subspecies have different habitats within this range (see Taxonomy and Systematics section). None of which experience seasonal migration. [3] This species is present in the understory of humid deciduous forests, forest edges, and regrowth forests. [3]
As with many species of hummingbirds, violet-bellied hummingbirds seem to be polygynous. [3] Males mate with multiple females and attract them by singing on perches about 1–10 m high. [3] They may also fly in a 'u' shape in front of the females. [10] However, after mating, they leave the female to rear the young. [10] Individuals do not mate for life nor do they aggregate in flocks. [10]
The females are responsible for creating nests and rearing the young. [10] She creates a nest from plant fibers, animal hair and feathers in a shrub or a tree, approximately 1.2 to 4.2 m above ground. [10] [3] She will then incubate the clutch of two white eggs, each 8 by 13 mm. [3] Incubation lasts 15 days followed by a 20-22 day nestling period. [3] The chicks are altricial when they hatch and thus rely on their mother to feed and defend them. [10] If successful, violet-bellied hummingbirds go on to live for approximately 4.2 years. [11]
Violet-bellied hummingbirds are primarily considered nectarivorous but may more accurately be called omnivorous. [3] They consume nectar from plants in the Rubiaceae, Ericaceae, Gesneriaceae (Besleria), and Fabaceae (Inga) families. [3] They also eat small arthropods, as do many other species of hummingbirds. [3] Males may defend their feeding territory from other males and large insects. [10] Although violet-bellied hummingbirds do not form flocks, they may congregate at fruit trees and feeders. [9] The violet-bellied hummingbird's predators are not known.
According to their IUCN Red List conservation status of least concern, the violet-bellied hummingbird does not seem to be threatened. [11] They are tolerant to disturbed areas such as forest edges. [3]
Tourists and locals alike may join in bird watching tours around Panama where the violet-bellied hummingbird is one of the featured birds. [12]
The violet-bellied hummingbird is assessed as least concern by the IUCN Red List conservation status. [11] Their population remains large and they have a wide distribution. [11]
The violet sabrewing is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of the subfamily Trochilinae. It is found from Mexico to Panama.
The black-throated mango is a species in subfamily Polytminae of the hummingbird family Trochilidae. It is found in Panama, in every mainland South American country except Chile, and in Trinidad and Tobago.
The purple-throated mountaingem is a species of hummingbird in tribe Lampornithini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.
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.
The collared inca is a species of hummingbird found in humid Andean forests from western Venezuela through Colombia and Ecuador to Peru. It is very distinctive in having a white chest-patch and white on the tail. Like other hummingbirds it takes energy from flower nectar, while the plant benefits from the symbiotic relationship by being pollinated. Its protein source is small arthropods such as insects. It is normally solitary and can be found at varying heights above the ground, often in the open.
The purple-throated woodstar is a species of hummingbird in tribe Mellisugini of subfamily Trochilinae, the "bee hummingbirds". It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama.
The white-bellied emerald is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Panamá, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
The blue-tailed hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
The wine-throated hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in tribe Mellisugini of subfamily Trochilinae, the "bee hummingbirds". It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.
The white-vented plumeleteer is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
The golden-tailed sapphire is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The violet-throated starfrontlet is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru and possibly Ecuador.
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.
Humboldt's sapphire or Humboldt's hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama.
The scissor-tailed hummingbird is an Endangered species of hummingbird in the "mountain gems", tribe Lampornithini in subfamily Trochilinae. It is endemic to Venezuela.
The fork-tailed woodnymph is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in every mainland South American country except Chile and Uruguay.
The gartered trogon, also known as the northern violaceous trogon, is a bird in the family Trogonidae, the quetzals and trogons. It is found in Mexico, all of Central America, and Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The curve-winged sabrewing is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is endemic to Mexico.
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 far-northern Peru.
The Talamanca hummingbird or admirable hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the "mountain gems", tribe Lampornithini in subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama.
