Violet-bellied hummingbird

Violet-bellied hummingbird
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [2]
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)
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]

Taxonomy and systematics

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]

Description

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]}

Plumage

Adult:

• The male violet-bellied hummingbird is more brightly colored than its female counterpart. ^[3] Its breast and belly is a violet blue while its back, crown, and throat is a metallic green. ^[3] While the rump is more of a bronze green. ^[3] The rectrices are a blue black while the belly and undertail coverts are a dull black with a blue/green sheen. ^[3] Around the tibia are white tufts which are framed by partly white spots on its belly. ^[3] The feathers on its wings are dusky with a purple sheen. ^[3] On average males are 7.5 cm long and weigh 3.4 g. ^{[8] [3]}
• The female violet-bellied hummingbird is more dull than its male counterpart. ^[3] Though its back, crown, and throat, is a similar metallic bronze green, its belly is a pale gray rather than a bright violet. ^[3] Its rump and uppertail coverts are more bronze than green while undertail coverts are a dull brown gray. ^[3] The rectrices can also be a blue black or a blueish green, and the outer rectrices are tipped with pale gray. ^[3] Similar to the males, the females' wings are dusky with a purple sheen. ^[3] Commonly in subspecies panamensis, the sides of the throat may be spotted with metallic green. ^[3] On average females are 7 cm long and weigh 3.0 g. ^{[3] [8]}

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.

Audio

Songs and calls Listen to Violet-bellied hummingbird on xeno-canto

Similar species

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]

Distribution and habitat

A male violet-bellied hummingbird perched on a tree branch.

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]

Behavior and ecology

Breeding

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]

Food and feeding

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.

Threats

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]

In culture

Tourists and locals alike may join in bird watching tours around Panama where the violet-bellied hummingbird is one of the featured birds. ^[12]

Status

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]

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Chlorestes julie". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22687411A93150678. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22687411A93150678.en . Retrieved 28 October 2020.
2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
3. Schulenberg, Thomas S. (2020-03-04), Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.), "Violet-bellied Hummingbird (Juliamyia julie)", Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, doi:10.2173/bow.vibhum1.01 , retrieved 2020-10-11
4. Ridgway, Robert (1881). Nomenclature of North American birds chiefly contained in the United States National Museum. Washington, DC: Govt. Print. Off. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.57047.
5. Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). Billerman, Shawn M; Keeney, Brooke K; Rodewald, Paul G; Schulenberg, Thomas S (eds.). "Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.trochi1.01.
6. Parker, Charles Thomas; Garrity, George M (2003). Parker, Charles Thomas; Garrity, George M (eds.). "Roseovarius halocynthiae, Aliiroseovarius halocynthiae, Pseudoroseovarius halocynthiae". The NamesforLife Abstracts. doi:10.1601/ex.22952 (inactive 2024-04-17).
7. "Avise's Birds of the World". avise-birds.bio.uci.edu. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
8. Ridgley, Robert S.; Greenfield, Paul J. (2003). "The Birds of Ecuador". The Auk. 120 (2): 562–568. doi:10.2307/4090213. ISSN   0004-8038. JSTOR   4090213.
9. Athanas, Nick; Greenfield, Paul J. (2016-12-31). Birds of Western Ecuador: A Photographic Guide. Princeton: Princeton University Press. doi:10.1515/9781400880706. ISBN   978-1-4008-8070-6.
10. "Violet-bellied Hummingbirds | Beauty of Birds". www.beautyofbirds.com. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
11. IUCN (2016). "Juliamyia julie: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22687411A93150678.en .
12. "Panama Bird Watching Tours". justadventures24. Retrieved 2020-10-13.

External links

• Violet-bellied Hummingbird photo avesphoto
• Violet-bellied Hummingbird photo; Article
• Violet-bellied Hummingbird photo (?); Article page; Article Colombia Curiosa