Blue-fronted Lancebill

About the Blue-fronted Lancebill

The blue-fronted lancebill (Doryfera johannae) is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela. The blue-fronted lancebill has two subspecies, the nominate D. j. johannae and D. j. guianensis. It shares its genus only with the very similar green-fronted lancebill (D. ludovicae).

The blue-fronted lancebill is 9.6 to 11 cm (3.8 to 4.3 in) long. Males weigh 3 to 5 g (0.11 to 0.18 oz) and females 3.3 to 6 g (0.12 to 0.21 oz). Both sexes have a long straight to slightly upcurved bill, and often hold it at an upward angle. Males of the nominate subspecies have a violet forehead ("front"), a bronze nape, and otherwise dark bronzy green upperparts. The tail is short and blue-black. The underparts are blue-black with a bluish green gloss on the throat and breast. The female differs from the male by having a greenish blue forehead and dull grayish bronzy green underparts. Both sexes of D. j. guianensis have a shorter bill than the nominate and are overall paler but similarly colored.

The nominate subspecies of blue-fronted lancebill is found... Wikipedia →