Coeligena violifer
The Violet-throated Starfrontlet, *Coeligena violifer*, is a striking medium-sized hummingbird endemic to the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia. Measuring approximately 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 in) in length and weighing around 8 grams, it boasts a spectacular iridescent plumage. Males are particularly dazzling, characterized by an extensive, shimmering violet gorget that catches the light, contrasting sharply with their otherwise emerald-green body plumage. Key field marks include a distinct white pos...
Exclusively found in humid montane cloud forests, forest edges, and bushy slopes in the high Andes, typically at elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters.
Primarily feeds on nectar from a diverse array of flowering plants, supplementing its diet with small arthropods gleaned from foliage or caught in mid-air for essential protein.
This diurnal hummingbird is primarily solitary, although individuals may aggregate at particularly rich flowering patches. Foraging behavior is characterized by both 'trap-lining,' where it follows a fixed circuit of scattered flowers, and territorial defense of high-yield nectar sources, fiercel...
The Violet-throated Starfrontlet is strictly resident to the high-altitude cloud forests and humid montane areas of the Andes, distributed across southern Peru and central to southern Bolivia. Its primary range in Peru includes the departments of Cusco and Puno, while in Bolivia, it can be found ...
Least Concern
- The Violet-throated Starfrontlet is one of the larger species within the diverse and colorful *Coeligena* genus. - Its scientific name, *violifer*, literally means 'violet-bearing,' a direct tribute to the male's striking gorget. - Like other hummingbirds, its iridescent throat feathers don't h...