Lesser violetear

{{Short description|Species of bird}} {{Speciesbox | image = Lesser violetear (Colibri cyanotus cabanidis).jpg | image_caption = ''C. c. cabanidis'', Panama | status = CITES_A2 | status_system = CITES | status_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|title=Appendices {{!}} CITES|url=https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php|access-date=2022-01-14|website=cites.org}}</ref> | genus = Colibri | species = cyanotus | authority = ([[Jules Bourcier|Bourcier]], 1843) | subdivision_ranks = Subspecies | subdivision = See text | range_map = Colibri cyanotus map.svg | range_map_caption = }}

The '''lesser violetear''' ('''''Colibri cyanotus'''''), also known as the '''mountain violet-ear''', is a medium-sized, metallic green [[hummingbird]] species commonly found in forested areas from Costa Rica south to the Andes and Argentina and east to Venezuela.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Hummingbird Handbook: Everything You Need to Know about These Fascinating Birds |author=John Shewey |publisher=Hachette UK |year=2021 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YZx4EAAAQBAJ&pg=PT507 |page=507|isbn=978-1-64326-093-8 }}</ref> This species and the [[Mexican violetear]] were formerly considered as conspecific and named the 'green violetear'.

== Taxonomy and systematics ==

Like all hummingbirds, the lesser violetear belongs to the order [[Apodiformes]]. Hummingbirds share this order with the [[Swift (bird)|swifts]], such as the [[white-collared swift]]. The name Apodiformes is derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] words "a pous", meaning "without foot". While apodiforms do in fact have feet, they are quite small and their legs are short and relatively weak. Many birds in this order cannot walk, and thus rarely if ever land on the ground since quick escape from predators is virtually impossible. For this reason members of this order spend a majority of their time in the air.

=== Subspecies === The lesser violetear has four sub-species: * ''C. c. cabanidis'' ([[Ferdinand Heine|Heine]]), 1863) - [[Costa Rica]], western [[Panama]] * ''C. c. crissalis'' [[W. E. Clyde Todd|Todd]], 1942 - [[Peru]] and [[Bolivia]] * ''C. c. cyanotus'' ([[Jules Bourcier|Bourcier]], 1843) - [[Colombia]], northwestern [[Venezuela]], [[Ecuador]] * ''C. c. kerdeli'' [[Ramón Aveledo Hostos|Aveledo]] & [[Luis A. Pérez Chinchilla|Perez]], 1991 - northeastern Venezuela

<gallery mode = packed heights = 160px> Lesser violetear (Colibri cyanotus cyanotus) Cundinamarca.jpg|''C. c. cyanotus'' Colombia Lesser violetear (Colibri cyanotus cyanotus) in flight Cundinamarca.jpg|''C. c. cyanotus'' in flight, Colombia </gallery> <gallery mode = packed heights = 160px> Green Violet ear.jpg|Male ''C. c. cabanidis'' displaying its "ears" Costa Rica Lesser violetear (Colibri cyanotus) composite.jpg|''C. c. cabanidis'' showing neck stretching Panama Colibri-thalassinus-001-edit.jpg|''C. c. cabanidis'' in flight Panama </gallery>

== Description == [[File:002 Lesser violetear displaying its ears to a Green-crowned brilliant in Los Quetzales National Park Photo by Giles Laurent.jpg|alt=Lesser violetear displaying its ears to a Green-crowned brilliant in Los Quetzales National Park|thumb|Lesser violetear displaying its ears to a Green-crowned brilliant in Los Quetzales National Park, Costa Rica]] The lesser violetear is roughly medium-sized by hummingbird standards. It averages around {{convert|9.7|to|12|cm|in|abbr=on}} in total length. Its bill is black and mostly straight with only a slight downward curve and measures from {{convert|1.8|to|2.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Hilty1986/><ref name=Howell1995/> The body mass can vary from {{convert|4.8|to|5.6|g|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Weske1972/> Among standard measurements, the [[Wing chord (biology)|wing chord]] is {{convert|5.8|to|6.8|cm|in|abbr=on}} and the [[tail]] is {{convert|3.5|to|4.3|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Wetmore1968/> It is shining green above with a glittering violet ear-patch on the sides of its neck. Its throat and chest are a more glittering green with a shining green belly. The tail is a metallic blue-green with more bronzy central feathers and a prominent black subterminal band.

=== Vocalizations === Solitary males sing from high, exposed twigs in their territory every day. Their song is a monotonously repeated sharp and dry "tsu-tzeek" at a rate of about one call per second.

== Distribution and habitat ==

=== Distribution === The lesser violetear breeds from the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama; mountains of northern Venezuela, and the [[Andes]] from western Venezuela to western Bolivia.

=== Habitat === Common [[habitats]] for the lesser violetear are in the canopy and borders of subtropical and lower [[temperate forest]], [[secondary woodland]] and scrub, and clearings and gardens in the subtropical zone on both slopes of the Andes. It is recorded mostly between altitudes of {{convert|1500|to|3300|m|ft|abbr=on}}, although it is sometimes found down to {{convert|900|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite book |page=218 |title=Birds of Costa Rica |author1=Dale Dyer |author2=Steve N. G. Howell |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=2023}}</ref> It generally prefers more humid and high-altitude areas, such as [[cloud forests]], than the similar [[sparkling violetear]] and is completely absent from the central valley where the sparkling violetear is most prevalent. However, the two species will sometimes be seen in the same areas feeding at flowering ''[[Inga]]'' trees.

== Behavior and ecology ==

=== Diet ===

The lesser violetear forages alone but tends to gather at flowering trees, especially coffee-shade ''[[Inga]]''. They feed at mid-level to [[Canopy (biology)|canopy]] and often hold and defend a feeding territory. They primarily feed on nectar and small insects. The lesser violetear has been recorded as attaining the greatest flying speed ever recorded for a hummingbird, with a pair of birds having attained {{convert|90|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} during a chase, although other species may be able to attain similar speeds.<ref name=Wood/>

=== Breeding === Like most hummingbirds, the lesser violetear is a solitary nester. The male's only involvement in the breeding process is to attract and mate with the female. The female is then responsible for choosing a nest location, generally on a low, small horizontal branch in a protected area. The nest is small and built from various plant materials, spider webs, and down woven together to form a sturdy cup structure. Two small white eggs are laid within the nest and the female incubates them on her own. [[Incubation time]] is 14–18 days. Hatchlings are primarily fed insects due to high nutritional requirements. No information was found on the length of the nestling stage or age at fledgling. Breeding takes place through the wet season into the early dry season, which varies by latitude.<ref name=Hobbs/>

==References== {{Reflist|refs= * <ref name=Hilty1986>{{cite book |last1=Hilty |first1=S.L. |last2=Brown |first2=W.L. |year= 1986 |title=A Guide to the Birds of Colombia |publisher=Princeton University Press |location=Princeton, New Jersey |isbn=978-0691083728}}</ref> * <ref name= Hobbs>{{cite web |url= https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=238171 |title=Green Violetear (''Colibri thalassinus'') |last1=Hobbs |first1=Mo |last2=Arizmendi |first2=M.C. |last3=Rodríguez-Flores |first3=C. |last4=Soberanes-González |first4=C. |editor-last=Schulenberg |editor-first=T.S. |date=2011 |website=Neotropical Birds Online |location=Ithaca |publisher=Cornell Lab of Ornithology}}</ref> * <ref name=Howell1995>{{cite book |last1=Howell |first1=S.N.G. |last2=Webb |first2=S. |year=1995 |title=A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York, New York |isbn=978-0198540120 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/guidetobirdsofme0000howe }}</ref> * <ref name=Weske1972>{{cite thesis |last=Weske |first=J.S. |year=1972 |title=The distribution of the avifauna in the Apurimac Valley of Peru with respect to environmental gradients, habitat, and related species |type=Ph.D. |publisher=University of Oklahoma |location=Norman, Oklahoma}}</ref> * <ref name=Wetmore1968>{{cite book |last=Wetmore |first=A. |year=1968 |title=The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 2. Columbidae (pigeons) to Picidae (woodpeckers) |series=Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections |volume=150, part 2 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press |location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref> * <ref name=Wood>{{cite book |last=Wood |first=Gerald |title=The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats |year=1983 |publisher=Guinness Superlatives |isbn=978-0-85112-235-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessbookofan00wood }}</ref> }} * {{cite book |last1=Ridgely |first1=Robert S. |last2=Greenfield |first2=Paul J. |year=2001 |title=The Birds of Ecuador: Field Guide |publisher=Cornell University Press |location=Ithaca, New York |isbn=0-8014-8721-8}} * {{cite book |last1=Ridgely |first1=Robert S. |last2=Greenfield |first2=Paul J. |year=2001 |title=The Birds of Ecuador: Status, Distribution, and Taxonomy |publisher=Cornell University Press |location=Ithaca, New York |isbn=0-8014-8720-X}} * {{cite book |last=Restall |first=Robin |year=2007 |title=Birds of Northern South America: An Identification Guide |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven and London |isbn=978-0-300-10862-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/birdsofnortherns0001unse }} * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20001122014400/http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/8605500.htm Green violetear stamps]}} (for [[Costa Rica]], [[El Salvador]]) with Range Map at {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/19990428065259/http://www.bird-stamps.org/ bird-stamps.org]}}

[[Category:Violetears]] [[Category:Hummingbird species of Central America]] [[Category:Birds of the Talamancan montane forests]] [[Category:Hummingbird species of South America]] [[Category:Birds of the Northern Andes]] [[Category:Birds of the Venezuelan Coastal Range]] [[Category:Birds described in 1843]] [[Category:Taxa named by Jules Bourcier]]