Photo: Joseph C Boone / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Violet-tailed Sylph
Aglaiocercus coelestis
Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis) — 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-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 5.6 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 Aglaiocercus
- Species coelestis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.6 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Violet-tailed Sylph is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Violet-tailed Sylph is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA Colombia and Ecuador.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.6 g, with a wing length of about 6.2 cm and a tail of around 9.2 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 28,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Violet-tailed Sylph?
The Violet-tailed Sylph is a very small bird that weighs around 5.6 g.
Where does the Violet-tailed Sylph live?
The Violet-tailed Sylph is found across South America with a range covering SA Colombia and Ecuador, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Violet-tailed Sylph belong to?
The Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Violet-tailed Sylph eat?
The Violet-tailed Sylph is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Violet-tailed Sylph migrate?
The Violet-tailed Sylph is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Violet-tailed Sylph 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-tailed Sylph make?
1 real field recording of the Violet-tailed Sylph — 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-tailed Sylph's range?
The Violet-tailed Sylph has a mapped global range of about 28,000 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.