The violet sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus) is a large hummingbird found in Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela and parts of Colombia. This stunning bird gets its name from its violet and dark feathers that shine and shimmer in the light. The violet sabrewing is the largest species of hummingbird found in Costa Rica and is a real treat to spot in the wild. This majestic bird has some very interesting traits and behaviors that make it a fascinating subject to learn about. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most fun and intriguing facts about the magnificent violet sabrewing.
They Have Incredibly Large Wingspans
One of the most distinguishing features of the violet sabrewing is its incredibly large wingspan. Their wings can stretch up to 5.9 inches long, which is the largest wingspan of any hummingbird species found in Costa Rica. This allows them to achieve remarkably fast flight speeds and perform aerobatic maneuvers. Their large wing surface area relative to their small bodies also enables them to generate the lift needed to hover and fly backwards with great agility. Expert hovering is essential for these birds when feeding on nectar from flowers. The next time you spot a violet sabrewing, take note of its expansive wings which give it superb flying abilities.
Their Crown Feathers Make a Beautiful Crest
Male violet sabrewings have beautifully iridescent feathering that covers their head and upper body. When perched, they have an eye-catching crest that sits on the crown of their head. The crown feathers have elongated tips and shine in hues of royal blue, violet and green. When the crest is raised up, it has a fan-like appearance. In bright light, the crest feathers can appear brilliant turquoise or purple. This crest is more pronounced on adult males. Females have slightly duller plumage on their crown. The vibrant crest feathers of the male are thought to be useful in attracting females during courtship displays. Whenever you spot a violet sabrewing, take a moment to appreciate its stunning crown feathers.
They Use Their Curved Bills to Feed on Nectar
Violet sabrewings have adapted slender, curved bills that are an optimal shape for accessing nectar from flowers. Their bills allow them to dip inside blossoms and use their long, forked tongues to lap up the sweet nectar inside. The curve of their bill matches the curve of certain trumpet shaped flowers, like passion flowers, that they pollinate. Their tongue is even equipped with tube-like grooves that allow nectar to easily flow into their mouths. After visiting multiple blooms, you can often see their bills covered in pollen grains, which get transferred between flowers. The violet sabrewing’s bill may not be as flashy as its feathers, but it serves the essential purpose of feeding on sugary nectar to fuel their fast metabolisms and flight muscles.
They Make Loud Wing Noises
One interesting trait of the violet sabrewing is the audible chirping and whistling noise their wings make during flight. The prominent wing noises result from the way their primary wing feathers vibrate as air rushes over them. As they beat their wings up to 70 times per second, it creates a high-pitched whirring or chattering sound. The volume and tone of the wing noises can vary based on flight speed. Faster dives and ascents equate to louder wing chirps. These vocalizations are more prominent in males. The exact purpose of the wing noises remains unclear. They may play a role in courtship displays or communicating with other birds. Next time you hear mysterious chirps coming from above, it just might be a violet sabrewing!
They’re Important Pollinators
Violet sabrewings provide the valuable ecological service of pollinating flowers as they feed on nectar. As they use their curved bills to probe inside blooms, pollen grains stick to their feathers. When they fly from flower to flower, they transfer pollen between the plants. This allows cross-pollination and fertilization to occur, enabling plants to produce fruits, seeds and offspring. Some plants even rely on violet sabrewings specifically for pollination. Passion flowers such as the blue passion flower have co-evolved with violet sabrewings and depend on them to reproduce. The vital pollination services of the violet sabrewing help maintain plant biodiversity and healthy rainforest ecosystems.
Males Perform Dramatic Courtship Displays
During mating season, male violet sabrewings put on a dramatic aerial display to court females. They fly in loops, arcs and circles at high speeds to show off their agility and flying skills. During the display, males orient their iridescent crown and throat feathers toward the female to dazzle her. They also vocalize loud wing trills and chirps to assert dominance and attract mates. Additionally, they may chase females and hover in front of them. Females judge these elaborate displays when selecting a suitable mate. An athletic, virtuosic performance signals that a male has good genes to pass on to offspring. By observing these rituals, we gain insight into the violet sabrewing’s intricate social behavior and reproduction.
They Build Tiny Cup Nests
Female violet sabrewings build tiny, cup-shaped nests to lay and incubate their eggs. They construct the nests by collecting plant down, spider silk and lichens, binding the materials together with strands of sticky plant gums and resins. The gums act as a ‘Quickrete’ glue to adhere everything together. The finished nests are only about 2 inches wide and 1 inch deep – barely large enough to hold 2 pea-sized eggs. The petite nests are well camouflaged, concealed in the forks of branches, vines or leaves. Builders may decoratively adorn the nest exterior with lichen flakes or bark pieces. The skill and effort it takes for these tiny birds to build durable nests to cradle their eggs is impressive.
They Lay The Smallest Bird Eggs
Relative to the violet sabrewing’s small body size, it lays the tiniest eggs of any known bird. Their eggs are only about the size of a coffee bean at .39 inches long and .25 inches wide. For comparison, a chicken egg is over 50 times larger in volume! The female only lays 2 microscopic eggs per clutch. The eggs have white shells and are incubated for about 16-19 days before hatching. The minuscule eggs allow the female to conserve energy and resources. The downside is the chicks hatch underdeveloped, naked and helpless. It takes about a month before they’re ready to leave the nest. So don’t underestimate the violet sabrewing for laying the world’s tiniest bird eggs!
Newborns Have Short Straight Bills
When violet sabrewing chicks first hatch, their bills are perfectly straight and extremely short – just a tiny nub. They lack the elongated, curved bill shape of adults that’s adapted for nectar feeding. The short bill makes sense because the hatchlings can’t yet feed themselves. Instead, they rely completely on their mothers to bring them insects and nectar. At around 3 weeks old, their bills start to lengthen and take on the necessary curved shape. As they grow, their bills extend to reach full adult size by 2 months old. Watching the young birds’ bill transform equips them for a life of drinking nectar from flowers.
Females Have a Dedicated Baby Pouch
Female violet sabrewings have adapted a unique anatomical feature to help transport food back to their chicks. Right beneath their throat they have an expandable, feather-less pouch of skin called a ventral cisterna. After visiting multiple flowers, the female can store up nectar in her cisterna pouch to bring back to the nest. The pouch capacity is about 1.5 mL, equal to a quarter teaspoon. When she arrives at the nest, the nectar gets transferred from her pouch straight into her chicks’ tiny mouths. The cisterna allows hummingbird moms to carry more nectar per trip to feed their hungry babies. This fascinating anatomical adaptation enables efficient nourishment of the chicks.
They Have Amazing Memory
Research suggests that violet sabrewings have remarkably accurate spatial memory and recall. In lab experiments, they have demonstrated the ability to remember the locations of multiple nectar-dispensing artificial flowers after only briefly observing their initial placement. Days later, they can still recall the flowers’ positions and efficiently visit them. Their ability to memorize and track flower locations likely enables more productive nectar foraging. Scientists believe they have specialized cognitive adaptations to remember nectar-rich flowers across vast rainforest territory. Next time you see a busy sabrewing zipping between blooms, realize it may have mapped out those locations days prior!
Conclusion
The dazzling violet sabrewing is truly an astonishing bird perfectly adapted to its tropical environment. Hopefully this overview of cool sabrewing facts gave you a deeper appreciation for this captivating species. Some key points to remember: They have massive 5 inch wings for superb flying ability; males have beautiful crown feathers; their curved bills and tongues help slurp nectar; they serve a key role as pollinators; they build incredibly tiny nests and lay the world’s smallest eggs. Violet sabrewings have definitely mastered the art of speedy flight and nectar feeding. Next time you’re in Costa Rica’s lush forests, listen for their distinctive wing beats and enjoy observing these masterful avian acrobats!
