Colibrí Pechiverde
Violet-bellied Hummingbird
Chlorestes julie
Song
Violet-bellied Hummingbird
Appearance: The Violet-bellied Hummingbird is a small, brilliant hummingbird. The male is especially striking: metallic green on the head, back, and upperparts, with a shining violet-blue to purple belly that gives the species its name. The throat and chest may flash green or bluish-green depending on the light. It has a slim, straight black bill and a dark tail. The female is duller, usually green above and pale grayish or whitish below, with less or no bright violet on the belly.
Habitat: It is mainly a bird of humid lowland and foothill habitats. It uses humid forest, forest edges, second growth, regrowth forest, plantations, gardens, and shrubby clearings. It is often seen where flowering plants are abundant, especially along forest borders rather than deep inside closed forest.
Behavior: It feeds mostly on nectar, visiting flowers of shrubs, trees, and vines. It also eats small arthropods, as most hummingbirds do, to obtain protein. Males may defend feeding territories against other males and even large insects. Although it is not a flocking species, several individuals may gather where there are rich nectar sources, fruiting or flowering trees, or feeders.
Breeding: The species appears to be polygynous, meaning males may mate with more than one female. Males attract females by singing from perches about 1–10 m above the ground and may perform a U-shaped display flight. After mating, the female alone builds the nest, incubates the eggs, and feeds the young. The nest is made from plant fibers, animal hair, feathers, and spiderweb, placed in a shrub or tree about 1.2–4.2 m above the ground. The clutch is usually two white eggs; incubation is about 15 days, and the young remain in the nest about 20–22 days.
Conservation Status: The Violet-bellied Hummingbird is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
MALE
FEMALE
Distribution
Chocó Region: Found in humid lowland forest, forest edge, and secondary growth along the Pacific side, especially in the Chocó biogeographic region. This is one of the most suitable Colombian regions for the species.
Northwestern Colombia: Present in humid lowlands and foothills near the Panama border.
Western Andes Foothills: Occurs locally along lower slopes and foothills, especially where humid forest edge and flowering vegetation are present.
Taxonomy
The Violet-bellied Hummingbird (Chlorestes julie)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Caprimulgiformes
- Family: Trochilidae
- Genus: Chlorestes
- Species: julie
Vocalization
Call Notes: Short, high “tsip,” “tseet,” “chip,” or “tik” notes, often given while moving between flowers or perching.
Feeding Calls: Tiny sharp chips may be heard around flowering shrubs, forest edges, gardens, and feeders.
Territorial Calls: During disputes with other hummingbirds, males may give rapid, squeaky chips or ticking notes.
Display Sounds: Males may give vocal notes during courtship, sometimes combined with short display flights.
