Sparkling Violetear
Common name: Sparkling Violetear
Scientific name: Colibri coruscans
Clades: Polytminae - Mangoes
The Sparkling Violetear is the largest violetear at 13 to 14 cm (5 to 5.5 in) long. The male birds weigh 5.8 to 8.5 g (0.20 to 0.30 oz) and the females 6 to 7.5 g (0.21 to 0.26 oz).
Sparkling Violetears are one of the most widely distributed hummingbird species in the Andes. As with other violetear species, it is not a bird of the deep forest. In addition, it can also adapt to non-native flowering trees such as Eucalyptus, which are found around forest edges and open areas with scattered shrubs. Despite their simple songs, Sparkling Violetears are energetic songsters. The males have slightly decurved black bills, bluish violet ear plumes that are vertical and elongated, a blue belly, black chin, and brown underparts. They also have a double-lobed tail with a steely blue subterminal band. Only two specimens out of more than 300 were found with a poorly understood melanistic form. Often, females have a smaller white postocular spot than males. There is no iridescent coloration on immatures, and their feathers are fringed buff.
2 subspecies:
C. c. germanus
Distribution tepuis of S Venezuela, W Guyana and adjacent N Brazil (Roraima).C. c. coruscans
Distribution Santa Marta Mts, Sierra de Perijá, mountains in NW Venezuela, and Andes S through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia, N Chile and NW Argentina.
taken in Colombia
taken in Peru
