The velvet purple coronet (Heliangelus zusii) is a small, stunning hummingbird found in a few restricted locales in Ecuador and Peru. Known for its brilliant, shimmering plumage, this species has entranced birders and nature lovers alike. However, due to its limited range and specific habitat needs, the velvet purple coronet is considered threatened and vulnerable to extinction. Determining the population status, distribution, behavior, and ecology of the velvet purple coronet is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies for this majestic bird. Ebird, the online database of bird observations provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, offers valuable information contributed by birdwatchers across the Americas to help elucidate the natural history of the velvet purple coronet.
Physical Description
The male velvet purple coronet is unmistakable, with its gleaming violet crown and throat, white breast feathers, and dark tail. The female has a shorter crest and is mostly brownish-gray, with pale throat feathers. Both sexes have a sharp, thin bill, well-adapted for drinking nectar from flowers. The velvet purple coronet is a small hummingbird, averaging 9-10 centimeters long and weighing 4-7 grams.
Some key physical features of the velvet purple coronet:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Size | 9-10 cm long (bill tip to tail tip) |
| Weight | 4-7 g |
| Plumage | Male has brilliant violet crown and throat, white underparts, dark tail. Female is mostly brownish-gray with pale throat. |
| Bill | Long, thin, and straight |
Distribution and Habitat
The velvet purple coronet has an extremely limited distribution in South America. Its total global range covers only about 42,000 square kilometers in central and southern Ecuador and a small adjoining region of northern Peru.
This hummingbird inhabits montane evergreen cloud forests and elfin forests at elevations between 1,400 and 3,000 meters. Some key aspects of its habitat preferences include:
- Elevations between 1,400-3,000 m
- Tropical montane cloud forests and elfin forests
- Forest edges and clearings with flowering plants
- Presence of certain plants that provide food sources, like orchids, ericas, and cassias
Due to its limited habitat within specific elevation ranges, the velvet purple coronet has a highly fragmented distribution. It is unequally distributed even within its narrow South American range. The eBird database provides recent sightings that help indicate where remnant populations persist.
Ebird Sightings
Ebird contains thousands of checklists and observations submitted by citizen scientists and birdwatchers documenting their sightings of different bird species, including the velvet purple coronet. Records on eBird can clarify the distribution, migration patterns, habitat use, and conservation status of birds.
Some examples of recent velvet purple coronet sightings on eBird include:
| Location | Date | Number of Birds | Habitat Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Tadeo, Ecuador | January 2, 2023 | 2 males | Forest edge near stream with flowering plants |
| Mindo Cloud Forest Reserve, Ecuador | December 1, 2022 | 1 female | Inside primary lower montane rainforest |
| Abra Patricia Reserve, Peru | November 15, 2022 | 3 males, 1 female | Hummingbird feeders near lodge |
These recent submissions help reveal current populations that can be targeted for conservation, and provide details on the habitats and resources the velvet purple coronet is using.
Conservation Status
Due to its extremely small, diminishing range and population, the velvet purple coronet is considered globally Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Habitat loss from deforestation, agricultural conversion, grazing, and development has accelerated fragmentation and declines. Climate change may also shrink the extent of high elevation cloud forest able to support this species.
Some major threats contributing to the velvet purple coronet’s threatened status:
- Habitat loss and fragmentation of cloud forests
- Climate change shrinking cool, moist mountain habitat
- Competition for nectar resources from other hummingbird species
- Potential pathogen spread from managed honeybees
Exact population estimates are uncertain, but the total global population may range from only 1,000 to 2,500 mature individuals. The velvet purple coronet’s reliance on specialized cloud forest habitats makes it especially vulnerable. However, expanding protected areas and reforestation efforts focused in regions where remnant populations persist could help conserve this species.
Behavior and Ecology
The velvet purple coronet is traplining species that feeds on nectar from flowering plants along established routes. It prefers to feed on certain mountain orchids, ericas, and cassias. This hummingbird is territorial and aggressive, vigorously defending nectar resources in its home range.
| Behavior | Description |
|---|---|
| Feeding | Feeds on nectar from specialized high elevation flowers along regular routes (traplining). Favors certain orchids, ericas, and cassias. |
| Breeding | Males display plumage for females. Females build nests with plant fibers and spider webs. Lays two eggs. |
| Social Behavior | Generally solitary. Territorial and aggressively defends flowers and feeding areas. |
The velvet purple coronet’s unique adaptations to its mountain cloud forest ecosystem make it highly sensitive to habitat disturbances that alter nectar plant communities. Maintaining networks of interconnected protected forests with intact understories appears key for sustaining populations of this threatened hummingbird.
Importance of Ebird Data
The velvet purple coronet is threatened by an array of human pressures compounded by climate change. But eBird sightings point to where remnant populations still persist in native cloud forest habitats. These records help inform new reserve proposals and habitat corridors to expand protected areas critical for this Endangered species.
Ebird data on the velvet purple coronet can aid conservation in the following ways:
- Identifies current distribution and populations
- Tracks shifts in range and habitat use over time
- Provides habitat details to guide management plans
- Establishes baseline for measuring population trends
- Indicates where to focus reforestation and restoration
Citizen science datasets like those compiled by eBird will only grow more vital for guiding evidence-based conservation efforts for threatened species like the velvet purple coronet hummingbird.
Conclusion
The velvet purple coronet is a spectacular, yet fragile hummingbird that is slipping closer to extinction. Habitat loss and climate pressures have placed this species at grave risk. But sightings data collected by birders and contributed to eBird illuminate where remnant populations hang on, providing a foundation for targeted conservation. Along with habitat protections, reforestation, reduced threats, and responsible ecotourism, the information gathered by committed citizen scientists could help write a brighter future for the velvet purple coronet.
