HUMMINGBIRD SPECIES

Brown Violetear

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Colibri delphinae

The Brown Violetear is a large hummingbird that is mainly dull brown, with rufous rump and grayer underparts.

It is 4.5 inches long and weighs around 6.5 - 7 grams.

There is a violet patch running back and down from the eye, a hermit-like malar stripe, and a glittering green and blue throat stripe. The bill is relatively short and almost straight.

Females are similar to the males, but have a smaller throat patch.

Immature birds have rufous fringes to the upperpart plumage, and little or no violet behind the eyes.

The song is a vigorous repetition of the "chit" call, and is delivered by up to several dozen breeding males in loose leks.

Feeds on nectar from small flowers of trees and epiphytes. It also takes insects, often caught in flight (hawking), as an essential source of protein.

Found high in the canopy of the rainforest, tall second growth and coffee plantations, but it will feed at lower levels at edges and clearings.

Breeds at middle elevations in the mountains in Central America, and western and northern South America (primarily the Andes and the tepuis) with isolated populations on Trinidad and in the Brazilian state Bahia.

Nest is a small cup of plant down saddled on a twig 1 – 3 meters high in a bush, into which 2 white eggs are laid.

SOURCE:
https://en.wikipedia.org