Crowned Woodnymph

Overview

The crowned woodnymph, also known as the violet-crowned woodnymph, is a species of hummingbird within the emeralds tribe. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, although its population is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Males of the nominate subspecies display a violet forehead, crown, upper back, and belly, with a dark bronzy green nape and a deeply forked blue-black tail.
• Females feature bright green upperparts with a pale gray throat and chest, and a darker gray belly; their tails are blue-black with white tips on the outer three pairs of feathers.
• Adults range in size from 8.5 to 11.5 cm in length, with females typically smaller and lighter than males.
• The song is described as a monotonously repeated, single, plaintive squeaky chip, accompanied by short dry chips that may sound like a dry trill or chatter.

Habitat

Found from Belize and Guatemala to far-northern Peru, the crowned woodnymph inhabits the interior, edges, and clearings of humid primary and mature secondary forests. It also frequents semi-open landscapes such as coffee and cacao plantations and gardens, while avoiding open scrublands.

Diet

This bird feeds on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, foraging at epiphytes, large herbs, shrubs, and small trees in covered or semi-open areas. It supplements its diet with small arthropods, which it captures by hawking from a perch or gleaning from foliage, with females gleaning more frequently than males.

Did you know?

Females are more aggressive than males when defending rich nectar sources and their territories receive more intruders while producing a higher mean nectar volume.