Sparkling Violetear (Colibri coruscans)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Sparkling Violetear

Colibri coruscans (Gould, 1846)

13–14 cmLength6.7 gWeight

The sparkling violetear (Colibri coruscans) is a species of hummingbird widespread in highlands of northern and western South America, including a large part of the Andes (from Argentina and northwards), the Venezuelan Coastal Range, and the Tepuis.

Most records: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Most records: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

Sparkling Violetear has been recorded at 243 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 7 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. WildSumaco LodgeEcuador3,913 records
  2. Reserva Ecológica Río Blanco – LodgeColombia3,548 records
  3. Hacienda El BosqueColombia2,954 records
More places
  1. Jardín Botánico de QuitoEcuador2,302 records
  2. El Dorado ProAves ReserveColombia2,132 records
  3. Tambo Cóndor Bird LodgeEcuador2,120 records
  4. Observatorio de ColibriesColombia1,837 records
  5. Cabañas San IsidroEcuador1,712 records
  6. RNA Proaves El Dorado – LodgeColombia1,691 records
  7. Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge & Manu Paradise LodgePeru1,608 records

Countries and regions with the most records

ColombiaEcuadorPeruVenezuelaBoliviaChileArgentina

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The sparkling violetear (Colibri coruscans) is a species of hummingbird widespread in highlands of northern and western South America, including a large part of the Andes (from Argentina and northwards), the Venezuelan Coastal Range, and the Tepuis. It occurs in a wide range of semi-open habitats, even in gardens and parks within major cities such as Quito, and is often the most common species of hummingbird in its range. It is highly vocal and territorial.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Sparkling Violetear?

The Sparkling Violetear is about 13–14 cm long and weighs around 6.7 g.

Where does the Sparkling Violetear live?

Its breeding range: South America: northern, western. It is most often recorded in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

Is the Sparkling Violetear endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Sparkling Violetear as Least Concern.

What does the Sparkling Violetear eat?

Main food: Nectar.

What family is the Sparkling Violetear in?

It belongs to the family Hummingbirds (Trochilidae), order Apodiformes.

At a glance

Length
13–14 cm
Weight
6.7 g
Habitat
Towns & farmland
Diet
Nectar
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
75 mm
Tail
51 mm
Bill
29 mm
Tarsus
6 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

South America: northern, western

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Hummingbirds Trochilidae
Genus
Colibri

Other birds in the genus Colibri

Brown VioletearBrown VioletearColibri delphinaeMexican VioletearMexican VioletearColibri thalassinusLesser VioletearLesser VioletearColibri cyanotusWhite-vented VioletearWhite-vented VioletearColibri serrirostrisCrimson TopazCrimson TopazTopaza pellaFiery TopazFiery TopazTopaza pyraWhite-necked JacobinWhite-necked JacobinFlorisuga mellivoraBlack JacobinBlack JacobinFlorisuga fuscaWhite-tipped SicklebillWhite-tipped SicklebillEutoxeres aquilaBuff-tailed SicklebillBuff-tailed SicklebillEutoxeres condamini
Sparkling Violetear

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Christoph Moning. ↗

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