Photo: Leon-bojarczuk / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Violet-capped Woodnymph
Thalurania glaucopis
Violet-capped Woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Violet-capped Woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 4.8 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 Thalurania
- Species glaucopis
Where it lives
Southeastern Brazil to eastern Paraguay, northeastern Argentina and northern Uruguay
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.8 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Violet-capped Woodnymph is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Violet-capped Woodnymph is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Violet-capped Woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA se Brazil to e Paraguay, ne Argentina and n Uruguay.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 4.8 g, with a wing length of about 5.5 cm and a tail of around 3.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Violet-capped Woodnymph?
The Violet-capped Woodnymph is a very small bird that weighs around 4.8 g.
Where does the Violet-capped Woodnymph live?
The Violet-capped Woodnymph is found across South America with a range covering SA se Brazil to e Paraguay, ne Argentina and n Uruguay, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Violet-capped Woodnymph belong to?
The Violet-capped Woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Violet-capped Woodnymph eat?
The Violet-capped Woodnymph is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Violet-capped Woodnymph migrate?
The Violet-capped Woodnymph is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Violet-capped Woodnymph 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 Violet-capped Woodnymph make?
1 real field recording of the Violet-capped Woodnymph — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Violet-capped Woodnymph's range?
The Violet-capped Woodnymph has a mapped global range of about 1.4 million 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.