The violet sabrewing hummingbird (Campylopterus hemileucurus) is a medium-sized hummingbird found primarily in Central America. Sabrewing hummingbirds get their name from their unusually wide and flattened wing shape which allows them to beat their wings in a side to side motion resembling a sabre. The violet sabrewing is mostly dark green on its back and crown with a deep violet throat patch, white breast feathers, and a forked black tail. Here is an overview of where violet sabrewing hummingbirds live and their geographic range.
Countries Where Violet Sabrewings Live
Violet sabrewings are found in the following countries in Central America:
- Costa Rica
- Panama
- Nicaragua
- Honduras
- Guatemala
- Belize
- El Salvador
Their range extends from southern Mexico through Central America into parts of northern Colombia and Venezuela. Violet sabrewings inhabit tropical and subtropical forests, woodlands, and shade plantations mainly at middle elevations up to around 6,500 feet above sea level.
Geographic Range
More specifically, here is an overview of the violet sabrewing’s geographic range in Central and South America:
Mexico
In Mexico, violet sabrewings are found in some areas along the Pacific slope from southern Sinaloa to Chiapas. They mainly inhabit humid broadleaf and pine-oak forests at middle elevations.
Guatemala
Violet sabrewings occur in many parts of Guatemala except for the northern lowlands. They are common in mountainous areas and highland forests throughout the country at elevations between 3,000-9,000 feet.
Belize
In Belize, violet sabrewings inhabit forested areas primarily in the Maya Mountains and areas like the Cockscomb Basin. They occur at elevations up to around 3,000 feet.
Honduras
Violet sabrewings are found along the Caribbean slope of Honduras from sea level up to 6,500 feet in elevation. Good locations to spot them include cloud forests in areas like La Tigra National Park.
Nicaragua
In Nicaragua, violet sabrewings mainly occur on the Caribbean slope but can also be found in some Pacific slope cloud forests. Prime habitats include humid broadleaf forests at middle elevations.
Costa Rica
Violet sabrewings are common and widespread at middle elevations on both the Caribbean and Pacific slopes in Costa Rica. They occur in forests, woodlands, plantations, and parks from around 1,600-8,200 feet elevation.
Panama
In Panama, violet sabrewings inhabit humid broadleaf forests on the Caribbean slope and highlands from Chiriqui to Veraguas provinces between 2,000-6,500 feet elevation. A small population occurs in the Darien region.
Colombia and Venezuela
In South America, violet sabrewings are found locally in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains of northern Colombia. They also inhabit a few isolated mountain ranges in northwestern Venezuela like the Perija and Mérida Andes at elevations around 3,300-9,500 feet.
Preferred Habitats
Violet sabrewings inhabit tropical and subtropical moist forests, especially areas with an abundance of flowering plants. Some details about their preferred habitats:
- Humid broadleaf forests – violet sabrewings often occur in wet broadleaf forests such as cloud forests and rainforests. They prefer the dense understory with many flowering plants.
- Pine-oak forests – they also inhabit pine and pine-oak forests with a lush understory.
- Forest edges – forest clearings and edges with lots of flowers attract these hummingbirds.
- Shade coffee plantations – violet sabrewings readily inhabit coffee plantations and shade grown crops that mimic natural forests.
- Parks and gardens – they may visit parks, backyards, and gardens with suitable flowers.
In general, violet sabrewings prefer wetter broadleaf and mixed forests from around 1,600-6,500 feet elevation. They tend to avoid completely open areas.
Plant Communities
Some specific plant communities and ecosystems inhabited by violet sabrewings include:
- Tropical moist broadleaf forests – wet, dense, diverse broadleaf forests provide ideal habitat.
- Tropical montane cloud forests – violet sabrewings flourish in humid, mossy, epiphyte-rich cloud forests.
- Premontane wet forests – they occupy wet foothill forests at middle elevations.
- Pine-oak forests – pine and oak woodlands with plenty of flowers attract these hummingbirds.
- Epiphyte-laden shade coffee plantations – violet sabrewings do well in planted shade coffee farms and crops.
In general, violet sabrewings inhabit a variety of wet broadleaf and mixed forests from the lowland tropics to lower mountainous areas in Central America. Abundant flowers and a dense vegetation structure are important habitat elements.
Elevation Range
Violet sabrewing hummingbirds generally occur at middle elevations within a broad elevation range:
- Lowest elevation: Around 500 feet
- Highest elevation: Around 9,800 feet
- Typical elevation range: 1,600-6,500 feet
In most of their range, violet sabrewings are most abundant between around 3,000-5,000 feet elevation. They tend to prefer wetter broadleaf forests at these middle elevations which provide plentiful flowers and insects.
Ideal Violet Sabrewing Habitat
The ideal type of habitat for violet sabrewings includes:
- Humid broadleaf or mixed forests
- Areas of dense vegetation with a closed canopy
- Presence of many flowering plants and nectar sources
- Availability of small insects for food
- Elevations between around 3,000-6,000 feet
- Tropical or subtropical climate
- Wetter forests with regular rainfall
Violet sabrewings strongly prefer wet, flowering-rich, structurally complex forests at middle elevations in Central America. These humid tropical forests provide the food resources and microclimates these hummingbirds need to thrive.
Conclusion
In summary, violet sabrewing hummingbirds primarily live in tropical Central American countries like Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and parts of southern Mexico. Their geographic range extends through the mountains and humid forests of Central America at middle elevations, mainly between 1,600-6,500 feet. Violet sabrewings inhabit a variety of wet broadleaf and mixed forests such as cloud forests, rainforests, pine-oak woodlands, forest edges, and shade plantations. Ideal habitat provides plentiful nectar flowers, small insects to eat, and a structurally complex forest environment. By understanding where these hummingbirds live and their habitat preferences, observers can know where to best search for violet sabrewings in the wild.
