Lophornis gouldii
The Dot-eared Coquette (Lophornis gouldii) is a miniature jewel of the South American avifauna, measuring a mere 6.8-7.5 cm (2.7-3.0 in) in length and weighing approximately 2.5-3.0 grams. Males are instantly recognizable by their vibrant, spiky rufous crest and striking elongated, iridescent green ear-tufts, or "dots," which give the species its common name. Their back is bronzy-green with a prominent white rump band, and the throat is iridescent green. Females lack the crest and ear-tufts, ...
Primarily inhabiting humid lowland and foothill evergreen forests, this species also utilizes forest edges and secondary growth within the Atlantic Forest biome, occurring at elevations typically below 800 meters.
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, particularly those with small corollas, supplemented with tiny insects and spiders caught in flight or gleaned from foliage.
Dot-eared Coquettes are diurnal and largely solitary, often perching inconspicuously on small branches within the forest understory or canopy edge. They employ a 'trap-lining' foraging strategy, visiting a regular circuit of flowering plants for nectar, and also engage in agile aerial hawking to ...
The Dot-eared Coquette is endemic to a restricted range within the Atlantic Forest biome of eastern Brazil. Its primary distribution extends from southern Bahia, Espírito Santo, and eastern Minas Gerais south through Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Paraná, reaching as far as Santa Catarina state. ...
Near Threatened
- The Dot-eared Coquette is one of the smallest bird species in the world, barely larger than some large insects. - Its dazzling "dot-ears" are not standard feathers but highly modified, elongated iridescent plumes used exclusively for courtship displays. - The male's elaborate crest and ear-tuft...