Violet-capped Woodnymph

The Violet-capped Woodnymph, a member of the hummingbird family, is a dazzling avian jewel with a length ranging from 8 to 11 cm. The males, slightly heavier, weigh between 4 to 6.1 grams, while females tip the scales at 4 to 5 grams. Both sexes boast a medium-length, straight, and predominantly blackish bill.

Identification Tips

Adult males are distinguished by their glittering violet-blue foreheads and crowns, complemented by dark golden-green upperparts and a steel blue, forked tail. Their underparts shimmer in brilliant green, with undertail coverts tinged in greenish to bluish hues. Females, on the other hand, are cloaked in green above with a dirty white to pale buff below, and their slightly forked tails feature metallic green inner feathers and steel blue outer ones with white tips. Subadult males exhibit a turquoise-blue forehead and crown, with whitish bars on their throat feathers and grayish brown patches on their underparts.

Habitat

This species thrives in the interiors and fringes of primary forests, as well as in scrublands and the green spaces of suburban and urban areas.

Distribution

The Violet-capped Woodnymph graces eastern and southeastern Brazil, from Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul, ventures into northeastern Argentina's Misiones Province, eastern Paraguay, and northern Uruguay. It is typically found at elevations from sea level up to 850 meters.

Behaviour

Known to be a short-distance migrant, the Violet-capped Woodnymph's specific migratory patterns remain a mystery. In Paraguay, it is notably present only during the non-breeding season.

Song & calls

The presumed song of this species is a monotonous and rapid series of evenly spaced metallic chips, while in flight, it emits short dry chips that can merge into a dry trill or chatter.

Breeding

Breeding season spans from September to February. The female constructs a bowl nest from soft plant down and fibers, adorned with fern scales and lichen, typically placed on a horizontal branch. She incubates a clutch of two eggs for approximately 15 days, with the young emerging 20 to 25 days post-hatch.

Diet and Feeding

The Violet-capped Woodnymph forages for nectar across all strata of its habitat, visiting a diverse array of flowering plants, shrubs, and trees. It also supplements its diet with small insects, which it catches by hawking from perches or by gleaning from vegetation.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Violet-capped Woodnymph as Least Concern. Despite its large range, the population size and trend are not well documented. Currently, there are no immediate threats identified, and it is one of the most common trochilids in Southeast Brazil, with a presence in numerous protected areas.