The sparkling violetear and lesser violetear are two similar species of hummingbird found in South America. Both belong to the genus Colibri and are known for their vibrant, iridescent plumage. However, there are some key differences between these two birds in terms of their appearance, behavior, habitat, and distribution. Understanding the distinctions between the sparkling violetear and lesser violetear can help birders and nature enthusiasts properly identify them in the wild.
Appearance
The most noticeable difference between the sparkling violetear and lesser violetear is in their plumage coloration. As their names suggest, both species have predominantly violet feathers, but the sparkling violetear has more vibrant, shimmering feathers while the lesser violetear’s plumage is slightly duller.
The sparkling violetear is medium-sized with a total body length of around 9-10 inches. The male has bright violet-blue plumage on its head, back, and belly, with a metallic green throat. There is a distinctive white spot behind each eye. The female sparkling violetear is similar, but has more gray on the underside and lacks the bold white eye spots.
The lesser violetear is slightly smaller at around 7-8 inches in total length. The male has rich violet plumage on the head, back, and breast, but it is not as brilliantly iridescent as the sparkling violetear. The lesser violetear also lacks the distinct white eye spots found on the male sparkling violetear. Females have grayer underparts than the males.
Behavior
Both the sparkling violetear and lesser violetear exhibit typical hummingbird behavior, feeding on nectar from flowers using their long, slender beaks and rapidly beating their wings to hover in place. They also eat small insects as a source of protein.
The sparkling violetear can be quite aggressive in defending its feeding territories, chasing away other hummingbirds or pollinators that encroach on its preferred nectar sources. The lesser violetear is less territorial and more social, sometimes feeding in loose flocks with other hummingbird species.
During the breeding season, male sparkling violetears put on aerial displays to court females. They fly in looping patterns up to 130 feet in the air, then quickly dive down before rapidly ascending again. Lesser violetears do not perform elaborate courtship displays.
Habitat
The sparkling violetear and lesser violetear occupy different types of habitat across their ranges in South America.
The sparkling violetear is found along the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. It prefers montane evergreen cloud forests and elfin forests at elevations between 1,000-3,000 meters. This high-altitude habitat has cool, humid conditions.
The lesser violetear inhabits tropical lowlands and foothills on both sides of the Andes, below 1,000 meters elevation. Its habitat includes areas like Amazon rainforest, deciduous woodlands, savannas, and scrublands. The climate is generally warm and wet.
Distribution
The sparkling violetear and lesser violetear have overlapping but distinct distributions across South America:
| Species | Countries Where Found |
|---|---|
| Sparkling violetear | Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina |
| Lesser violetear | Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay |
As the table shows, the lesser violetear has a wider geographic range spanning more countries than the sparkling violetear. The sparkling violetear is limited just to the Andean highlands while the lesser violetear also occurs further eastward into lower elevation areas like the Amazon.
Diet
Both the sparkling violetear and lesser violetear subsist primarily on nectar from flowers. Their long, slender beaks and tongues are adapted for drinking nectar while hovering at flowers.
Some key differences in their diets include:
- Sparkling violetears favor flowers of the genus Brunfelsia as a nectar source.
- Lesser violetears visit a wider variety of flower species.
- Sparkling violetears consume more insects than lesser violetears.
- Lesser violetears sometimes supplement their diet by visiting banana feeders in urban areas.
The differences in their diets reflect the floral composition of their respective montane vs. lowland habitats. Sparkling violetears have adapted to rely more on certain high elevation flower species while lesser violetears make use of a greater diversity of nectar sources.
Reproduction
Sparkling violetears and lesser violetears share some similar reproductive behaviors but also differ in their nesting sites and clutch sizes:
- Both species are monogamous, mating with one partner per season.
- Males of both species attract females with colorful plumage and aerial displays.
- Sparkling violetears nest in sheltered overhangs on cliff faces or steep slopes. Lesser violetears nest in trees up to 16 feet above ground.
- Typical clutch size is 2 eggs for sparkling violetear and 2-3 eggs for lesser violetear.
- The female alone incubates the eggs and cares for the young in both species.
The sparkling violetear’s mountain habitat leads it to nest on cliffs while the lesser violetear nests in trees. The lesser violetear also typically lays an extra egg in its clutch compared to the sparkling violetear.
Status and Conservation
Both the sparkling violetear and lesser violetear are currently classified as species of Least Concern by the IUCN. Neither is considered globally threatened or endangered at present.
Some specific factors regarding their conservation status include:
- Sparkling violetear has a limited global range and population size estimated at 10,000-25,000 individuals.
- Lesser violetear has a far more extensive range and stable population trend.
- Habitat loss in the Andean highlands is an ongoing threat to the sparkling violetear.
- Climate change may shift suitable ranges for both species over time.
While not imminently threatened, the sparkling violetear merits monitoring due to its smaller population concentrated in specific montane areas. Protecting intact Andean cloud forest habitat will benefit the sparkling violetear.
Conclusion
In summary, the sparkling violetear and lesser violetear exhibit similarities as violet-hued hummingbirds of South America, but can be distinguished by differences in plumage vibrancy, size, territorial behavior, breeding biology, habitat preferences, and geographic distributions. The sparkling violetear is limited to Andean high elevation forests while the lesser violetear also inhabits a wider array of lower elevation tropical habitats. Maintaining the integrity of Andean montane cloud forests will be important for ensuring a future for the range-restricted sparkling violetear. Careful observation and attention to plumage characteristics will help bird enthusiasts properly differentiate these two hummingbird species.
