White-vented violetear facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-vented violetear |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Colibri |
| Species: |
C. serrirostris
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| Binomial name | |
| Colibri serrirostris (Vieillot, 1816)
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| Range of C. serrirostris | |
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The white-vented violetear (Colibri serrirostris) is a beautiful type of hummingbird that lives in South America. It's famous for its bright green feathers and a special violet-blue patch near its ears. This amazing bird is found in countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
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What Does the White-Vented Violetear Look Like?
The white-vented violetear is about 12 to 13 centimeters (5 inches) long. It weighs around 5.6 to 6.8 grams, which is about as light as two pennies!
Most of the male bird is a shiny green color. Near its tail, the feathers turn a yellow-green with a hint of blue. Its tail is also sparkling green with a wide, dark blue band at the end. The feathers under its tail are pure white.
The most striking feature is the violet-blue patch behind its eyes, covering its "ears." Female white-vented violetears look similar to males but are a bit paler and more grayish. Sometimes, the upper part of their beak (called the maxilla) has small saw-like edges. This unique feature gave the bird part of its scientific name!
Where Do White-Vented Violetears Live?
You can find the white-vented violetear in a large area of southern Brazil. Their home stretches from the state of Mato Grosso in the west to Bahia and Espírito Santo in the east, and south to Santa Catarina. They also live west into Bolivia, central Paraguay, and northern Argentina.
These hummingbirds like many different kinds of open spaces. They can be found in scrublands, savannas, grasslands, and even in gardens and parks. They usually live at elevations between 1,000 and 1,500 meters (about 3,300 to 4,900 feet) above sea level. However, they can live from sea level all the way up to 3,600 meters (about 11,800 feet) in the Andes mountains!
How Do White-Vented Violetears Behave?
Movement and Migration
Most white-vented violetears stay in one place for their whole lives. They don't usually travel far. However, some groups of these birds might make short trips. For example, birds living high up in the mountains in Brazil might move to lower areas when fall arrives.
What Do White-Vented Violetears Eat?
White-vented violetears love to drink nectar from many different kinds of flowers and trees. They also catch insects while flying. These birds can be quite bold! They often call out from a perch and will chase other birds and even butterflies away from their favorite flower patches. They also tend to start looking for food earlier in the morning than other hummingbirds.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scientists are still learning about the exact breeding seasons for the white-vented violetear. But in some parts of Brazil, they build their nests between September and March.
Only the female bird builds the nest, sits on the eggs, and takes care of the baby birds. The nest is shaped like a small cup. It's made from thin plant fibers and spider silk. The outside is decorated with small pieces of lichen. The nest is usually placed on a branch or in a fork of a tree, about 1 meter (3 feet) above the ground.
A female white-vented violetear usually lays two eggs. The eggs hatch after about 15 to 16 days. The young birds are ready to fly out of the nest about 22 to 25 days after they hatch.
What Sounds Do White-Vented Violetears Make?
The song of the white-vented violetear is a sound that repeats constantly. It sounds like "tsilp, tsilp, zip, tsalp, tsalp." This song can go on for as long as 25 minutes! Their main call is a strong sound that goes "drüg, drüg, drüg, drüg, drüg."
Are White-Vented Violetears Endangered?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the white-vented violetear. They have decided that it is a species of "Least Concern." This means they are not worried about it becoming endangered right now.
Even though we don't know the exact number of these birds or if their population is growing or shrinking, they live in a very large area. They are also common in most places where they live. Plus, they can be found in several protected natural areas, which helps keep them safe.
Images for kids
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A male white-vented violetear in Brazil.
.JPG)
 | William L. Dawson |
 | W. E. B. Du Bois |
 | Harry Belafonte |
