Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sparkling Violetear
Colibri coruscans
Sparkling Violetear (Colibri coruscans) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Sparkling Violetear (Colibri coruscans) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 6.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Colibri
- Species coruscans
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6.7 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sparkling Violetear is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Sparkling Violetear is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Sparkling Violetear (Colibri coruscans) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA n, w.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 6.7 g, with a wing length of about 7.5 cm and a tail of around 5.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 920,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sparkling Violetear?
The Sparkling Violetear is a very small bird that weighs around 6.7 g.
Where does the Sparkling Violetear live?
The Sparkling Violetear is found across South America with a range covering SA n, w, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Sparkling Violetear belong to?
The Sparkling Violetear (Colibri coruscans) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Sparkling Violetear eat?
The Sparkling Violetear is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Sparkling Violetear migrate?
The Sparkling Violetear is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Sparkling Violetear endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Sparkling Violetear make?
1 real field recording of the Sparkling Violetear — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Sparkling Violetear's range?
The Sparkling Violetear has a mapped global range of about 920,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Hummingbird Feeders
How to choose a hummingbird feeder — the two main styles compared, the right sugar-water mix, and how to keep it clean so the birds stay safe. A decision framework with the hummingbird species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Trochilidae
A field guide to the Trochilidae family — 366 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.