Mexican Violetear
Colibri thalassinus
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderApodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)
- FamilyTrochilidae (Hummingbirds)
- GenusColibri (Violetears)
- SpeciesColibri thalassinus (Mexican Violetear)
About the Mexican Violetear
The Mexican violetear (Colibri thalassinus) is a medium-sized, metallic green hummingbird species commonly found in forested areas from Mexico to Nicaragua. This species, together with the lesser violetear were previously considered conspecific, and together called the green violetear.
The Mexican 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, where they are not well-adapted to forage or to escape from predators. Members of this order spend a majority of their active time in the air.
The Mexican violetear is roughly medium-sized by hummingbird standards. It averages around 9.7 to 12 cm (3.8 to 4.7 in) in total length. Its bill is black and mostly straight with only a slight downward curve and measures from 1.8 to 2.5 cm (0.71 to 0.98 in). The body mass can vary from 4.8 to 5.6 g (0.17 to 0.20 oz). Among... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Mexican Violetear in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca
White-eared Hummingbird
Basilinna leucotis
Rivoli's Hummingbird
Eugenes fulgens
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Selasphorus platycercus
Blue-throated Hummingbird
Lampornis clemenciae
Berylline Hummingbird
Saucerottia beryllina
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Cynanthus latirostris
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Heloise's Hummingbird
Selasphorus heloisa
Amethyst-throated Hummingbird
Lampornis amethystinus
Violet-crowned Hummingbird
Leucolia violiceps
Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird
Tilmatura dupontii
Rufous Hummingbird
Selasphorus rufus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 2 | Cusuco National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 3 | La Tigra National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 4 | El Triunfo | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 5 | Celaque National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Mexican Violetear in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Mexican Violetear sighting in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca, based on 158 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Mexican Violetear in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca?
January has the highest sighting rate for Mexican Violetear in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca in our monthly data.