Ramosomyia violiceps
The Violet-crowned Hummingbird (*Ramosomyia violiceps*) is a jewel of the American Southwest and Mexico, renowned for its striking plumage. Measuring approximately 9-10 cm (3.5-4 in) in length and weighing a mere 3.5-4 grams (0.12-0.14 oz), this diminutive bird sports a brilliant, iridescent violet crown that sharply contrasts with its pure white underparts and a metallic green back. A distinctive feature is its bicolored bill, bright red at the base with a black tip. Sexes are nearly identic...
Primarily found in riparian woodlands, sycamore-cottonwood groves, oak canyons, and foothill scrub, often in semi-arid regions near permanent water sources. Typically occurs at elevations ranging from sea level up to 2,000 meters (6,500 feet).
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, including agaves, ocotillo, penstemons, and salvias, supplemented by small insects and spiders caught in mid-air or gleaned from foliage.
Violet-crowned Hummingbirds are highly active and diurnal, spending their days foraging for nectar and insects with characteristic rapid flight and hovering. They often exhibit trap-lining behavior, visiting a circuit of flower patches. Males are fiercely territorial, aggressively defending prime...
The Violet-crowned Hummingbird primarily breeds across western and southwestern Mexico, extending from Sonora, Sinaloa, and Nayarit south to Oaxaca. In the United States, its breeding range is largely restricted to the 'sky islands' and riparian canyons of southeastern Arizona and southwestern Ne...
Least Concern
- The Violet-crowned Hummingbird is one of only four hummingbird species that regularly breed within the United States, making it a highly sought-after bird for US birders. - Its pure white underparts, combined with the iridescent violet crown, make it almost unmistakable among North American hum...