Lesser Violetear
Colibri cyanotus
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderApodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)
- FamilyTrochilidae (Hummingbirds)
- GenusColibri (Violetears)
- SpeciesColibri cyanotus (Lesser Violetear)
About the Lesser Violetear
The lesser violetear (Colibri cyanotus), also known as the mountain violet-ear, is a medium-sized, metallic green hummingbird species commonly found in forested areas from Costa Rica south to the Andes and Argentina and east to Venezuela. This species and the Mexican violetear were formerly considered as conspecific and named the 'green violetear'.
Like all hummingbirds, the lesser violetear belongs to the order Apodiformes. Hummingbirds share this order with the swifts, such as the white-collared swift. The name Apodiformes is derived from the Greek words "a pous", meaning "without foot". While apodiforms do in fact have feet, they are quite small and their legs are short and relatively weak. Many birds in this order cannot walk, and thus rarely if ever land on the ground since quick escape from predators is virtually impossible. For this reason members of this order spend a majority of their time in the air.
The lesser violetear has four sub-species: C. c. cabanidis (Heine), 1863) - Costa Rica, western Panama C. c. crissalis Todd, 1942 - Peru and Bolivia C. c. cyanotus (Bourcier, 1843) - Colombia, northwestern Venezuela, Ecuador
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Recent sightings of Lesser Violetear in Madidi National Park
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White-vented Violetear
Colibri serrirostris
Sparkling Violetear
Colibri coruscans
Brown Violetear
Colibri delphinae
Fork-tailed Woodnymph
Thalurania furcata
Gray-breasted Sabrewing
Campylopterus largipennis
Many-spotted Hummingbird
Taphrospilus hypostictus
Great-billed Hermit
Phaethornis malaris
Reddish Hermit
Phaethornis ruber
White-necked Jacobin
Florisuga mellivora
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Klais guimeti
White-chinned Sapphire
Chlorestes cyanus
Long-billed Starthroat
Heliomaster longirostris
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Lesser Violetear in Madidi National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Violetear sighting in Madidi National Park, based on 11 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Lesser Violetear in Madidi National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Lesser Violetear in Madidi National Park in our monthly data.