Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Violet-bellied Hummingbird

Chlorestes julie

The Violet-bellied Hummingbird, Chlorestes julie, is a diminutive avian jewel, with the male sporting a resplendent violet belly that glistens in the sunlight. This species is adorned with a metallic green back and crown, and both sexes possess long, rounded tails, straight and short bills, and a distinctive pink lower mandible.

Identification Tips

To identify the Violet-bellied Hummingbird, look for the male's vibrant violet blue breast and belly, metallic green back, crown, and throat, and bronze green rump. The female, while more subdued, shares the metallic bronze green back and crown but has a pale gray belly. Both sexes have dusky wings with a purple sheen and blue black rectrices, with the female's outer rectrices tipped in pale gray.

Habitat

These hummingbirds inhabit the understory of humid deciduous forests, forest edges, and regrowth forests, where they flit about in a ceaseless quest for sustenance.

Distribution

The Violet-bellied Hummingbird is found from central Panama, through Colombia, to southwestern Ecuador, and the extreme northwestern point of Peru. They are non-migratory, remaining in their range throughout the year.

Behaviour

Males are polygynous, courting multiple females with song and acrobatic displays. After mating, they take no part in rearing the young. Females build nests and care for the offspring alone. These birds may live up to 4.2 years in the wild.

Song & Calls

The Violet-bellied Hummingbird's vocalizations can be heard on xeno-canto, where their delicate songs add to the rich tapestry of the forest soundscape.

Breeding

Females construct nests from plant fibers, animal hair, and feathers, usually 1.2 to 4.2 meters above ground. They lay two white eggs, which are incubated for 15 days, followed by a 20-22 day nestling period.

Similar Species

This species can be confused with the Green-crowned Woodnymph and the Sapphire-throated Hummingbird. However, the Violet-bellied Hummingbird is smaller, has a green (not violet) back, and a rounded (not notched) tail.

Diet and Feeding

Violet-bellied Hummingbirds feed on nectar from various plant families and also consume small arthropods. Males may defend feeding territories, and while they do not form flocks, they may gather at abundant food sources.

Conservation status

The Violet-bellied Hummingbird is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable population and wide distribution. They are tolerant of disturbed habitats such as forest edges.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Violet-bellied Hummingbirds on Birda

Sightings
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Angelica Ladino
Angelica Ladino
26 Jun 2024 - 7:32pm
Colombia

More Hummingbirds

A photo of a Speckled Hummingbird (Adelomyia melanogenys)

Speckled Hummingbird

Adelomyia melanogenys
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Patricia L
Very encouraging birding app
Easy to use, fun to see progress and encouraging to receive feedback from other users.
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
Alex J
Friendly and helps to identify birds
Great birding app, good for logging your sightings, also has nice species guide. I'm enjoying the social aspect more than I expected, everyone seems friendly and helps to identify unknown birds. Good mix of newbies and experienced users.
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
Mike T
Sense of Community
A great app, which is continually being improved. What really comes through is the passion of those behind the app. The sense of community is brilliant, so much help and support provided to new and/or in experienced birders.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.