The violet-bellied hummingbird (Chlorestes julie ) is a species of hummingbird characterized by the male's shimmering violet belly.
The violet-bellied hummingbird is characterized by the male's shimmering violet belly. The rest of its body is just as brilliant; its back and crown being a metallic green. The violet belly, however, is not shared between the sexes as this species exhibits sexual dimorphism. The characteristics they do share include long, rounded tails, straight and short bills, and pink lower mandibles.
Adult:
Juvenile plumage has only been documented for immature males. They appear similar to an adult female although they may have some patches of violet on their belly or a sparkling green foreneck.
The molt pattern of this species is also yet to be described.
Violet-bellied hummingbirds are found in central Panama, through Columbia, extending to southwestern Ecuador and the extreme northwestern point of Peru. Different subspecies have different habitats within this range (see Taxonomy and Systematics section). None of which experience seasonal migration. This species is present in the understory of humid deciduous forests, forest edges, and regrowth forests.
Violet-bellied hummingbirds are primarily considered nectarivorous but may more accurately be called omnivorous. They consume nectar from plants in the Rubiaceae, Ericaceae, Gesneriaceae (Besleria), and Fabaceae (Inga) families. They also eat small arthropods, as do many other species of hummingbirds. Males may defend their feeding territory from other males and large insects. Although violet-bellied hummingbirds do not form flocks, they may congregate at fruit trees and feeders. The violet-bellied hummingbird's predators are not known.
As with many species of hummingbirds, violet-bellied hummingbirds seem to be polygynous. Males mate with multiple females and attract them by singing on perches about 1–10 m high. They may also fly in a 'u' shape in front of the females. However, after mating, they leave the female to rear the young. Individuals do not mate for life nor do they aggregate in flocks.
The females are responsible for creating nests and rearing the young. She creates a nest from plant fibers, animal hair and feathers in a shrub or a tree, approximately 1.2 to 4.2 m above ground. She will then incubate the clutch of two white eggs, each 8 by 13 mm. Incubation lasts 15 days followed by a 20-22 day nestling period. The chicks are altricial when they hatch and thus rely on their mother to feed and defend them. If successful, violet-bellied hummingbirds go on to live for approximately 4.2 years.
According to their IUCN Red List conservation status of least concern, the violet-bellied hummingbird does not seem to be threatened. They are tolerant to disturbed areas such as forest edges.
The violet-bellied hummingbird is assessed as least concern by the IUCN Red List conservation status. Their population remains large and they have a wide distribution.
