Euphonia chlorotica
The Purple-throated Euphonia (Euphonia chlorotica) is a diminutive and dazzling songbird, a true gem of the Neotropics, typically measuring just 9-11 cm (3.5-4.3 inches) in length and weighing 8.5-12.5 grams. Males are stunningly iridescent, boasting a deep violet-purple crown and throat that contrasts sharply with a vibrant yellow belly and a glossy blue-black back and wings. Females, by contrast, are more subdued, exhibiting a dull olive-green upperparts and grayish-yellow underparts, often...
Found primarily in humid to semi-arid forests, woodland edges, clearings, and mature secondary growth, often favoring areas with abundant mistletoe. They inhabit a wide altitudinal range, from sea level up to approximately 2,000 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, with a strong preference for mistletoe berries (Loranthaceae), which they swallow whole. They also consume other small berries and, to a lesser extent, small insects and spiders, typically gleaned from foliage.
Purple-throated Euphonias are active, diurnal birds, typically foraging high in the canopy, often in pairs or small family groups, and occasionally joining mixed-species flocks. Their foraging strategy primarily involves gleaning fruits, especially mistletoe berries, which they consume whole, pas...
The Purple-throated Euphonia boasts a wide distribution across the Neotropics, extending from southern Mexico south through Central America to northern and central South America. In Mexico, it is found from Jalisco and San Luis Potosà south along both Pacific and Gulf slopes. Its range continues ...
Least Concern
- The Purple-throated Euphonia is one of the smallest members of the tanager family, often weighing less than a quarter of an ounce. - Its diet is remarkably specialized, with mistletoe berries forming such a large part that their digestive system is uniquely adapted to quickly pass the sticky se...