Violet Sabrewing

Violet Sabrewing ♂

The violet or purple Sabrewing Sabrewing ( Campylopterus hemileucurus ) is a species of bird in the family of hummingbirds ( Trochilidae ). The species has a large distribution area in the Central American countries, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. The stock is by the IUCN as " not at risk " ( Least concern ) classified.

Features

The Violet Sabrewing reaches a body length of about 14 to 15 centimeters. The weight of the male is 11.5, that of the female 9.5 grams. The bottom and the throat of the male are dark purple. The white dot behind the eyes clearly stands out from the green crown and the purple ear area. The purple neck and upper side is blue-green on the upper tail-coverts. The tail is black violet, with the three outer tail feathers are white. The purple throat of the female is surrounded by a truncated beard. It also has a white spot behind the eyes a green crown, however, is in the ear area color matte. The underside is light gray and speckled on the lateral flanks green. The under tail-coverts are green. The inner tail feathers are green black, the outer ones are blackish with white spots. The slightly curved beak and legs are black in both.

Distribution and habitat

The hummingbird normally lives especially in valleys in the undergrowth and edges of mountain forests. To search for food, he leaves, here are the evergreen moist forests and visited inhabited areas, banana plantations and secondary vegetation. It is found at altitudes of 500-2400 meters.

Behavior

The hummingbird is amazing for its size and unaggressive little dominant. On flowers he is little territorial. His preferred plants include heliconias, Bananaren and partially bushes in the undergrowth such as belonging to the crushing roots Cephaelis. As a nest he builds a thick cup of moss, fine fibers and plants that it holds together with cobwebs.

Subspecies

So far, two subspecies are known, which differ mainly by their colors and their distribution area. These are to:

• Campylopterus hemileucurus hemileucurus ( Deppe, 1830) - nominate. Come isolated against in southern Mexico. To the south extends the distribution area to the south of the Central Nicaragus.
• Campylopterus hemileucurus mellitus Bangs, 1902 Slightly larger than the nominate form. At the tail much stronger white spots. The top has a little more green. Occurs in Costa Rica and western Panama.