Heliangelus viola
The Purple-throated Sunangel (*Heliangelus viola*) is a captivating, medium-sized hummingbird, typically measuring 10-11 cm (4.0-4.3 inches) in length and weighing a mere 5-6 grams. Males are stunning, sporting a vibrant, iridescent violet gorget that can appear dark in shadow but flashes brilliantly in direct sunlight, contrasting with their glossy green upperparts and dark belly accented by green flanks. A distinctive white post-ocular spot behind the eye provides a key field mark for both ...
This species primarily inhabits humid montane cloud forests, forest edges, and bushy clearings within the Andean slopes. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 1,700 to 3,000 meters (5,600-9,800 feet).
Their diet primarily consists of nectar, extracted from a variety of tubular flowers, and small arthropods, which they catch by hawking or gleaning.
Purple-throated Sunangels are diurnal and highly active, with males often observed perching prominently in sunlit spots, a behavior typical of 'sunangels' to regulate body temperature. Foraging primarily involves trap-lining, where individuals methodically visit a circuit of flowering plants for ...
The Purple-throated Sunangel is endemic to the humid montane cloud forests of the Andes, with its distribution spanning southern Ecuador and northern Peru. In Ecuador, it is found in the provinces of Loja, Zamora-Chinchipe, and Morona-Santiago, while its Peruvian range extends through Piura, Caja...
Least Concern
- The name "Sunangel" is attributed to their habit of perching in sunlit spots to warm their tiny bodies in the cool, high-altitude Andean forests. - Despite their small size, typically 10-11 cm (4-4.3 inches) and weighing 5-6 grams, they exhibit remarkable territorial aggression against intruder...