Violet-bellied hummingbird

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Violet-bellied hummingbird
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Dickcissel male perched on a metal pole singing, with neck stretched and beak open.

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

Similar species[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Breeding[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al 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. ^ a b c 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).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of April 2024 (link)
  7. ^ a b c "Avise's Birds of the World". avise-birds.bio.uci.edu. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
  8. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d e f g "Violet-bellied Hummingbirds | Beauty of Birds". www.beautyofbirds.com. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  11. ^ a b c d 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[edit]

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