Mexican Violetear Hummingbird

MEXICAN VIOLETEAR
(aka GREEN VIOLETEAR) HUMMINGBIRD – (Colibri thalassinus)  

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Colibri
Species: C. thalassinus

The Mexican Violetear (Violet-ear) or the Green-Violetear hummingbird are usually found in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.

The Mexican Violetear belongs to the Colibri thalassinus hummingbird species. It gets its name from the Latin word thalassinus meaning “color of the sea”. 

The term “violet-ears” refers to the bright patch of feathers that stands out on the sides of this hummingbird’s head, mimicking an ear, giving rise to its popular name. 

Male
Mexican Violetear Hummingbirds:

Male Mexican Violetear hummingbirds are medium-sized hummingbirds with stunning, vibrant plumage and iridescent green bodies.

They do not have a gorget in the traditional sense as most hummingbirds.
Instead, males feature a distinctive shimmering violet patch on the sides of their neck and sometimes a central violet streak on their chest, which serves a similar purpose in display and territorial behavior.

This hummingbird has metallic blue-green tail feathers with a black band underneath the bronze tail feathers in the center.
They weigh between 5 and 6 grams and have lengths ranging from 3.8 to 4.7 inches. 

Female
Mexican Violetear Hummingbirds:

Female Broad-billed hummingbirds have less vibrant coloration than males, with primarily dull green or blue-green iridescent plumage that varies in intensity depending on lighting. 

Their violet ear patches are less pronounced, and their underparts often feature grayish or whitish markings. They have a dark, forked tail with subtle blue or green iridescence, appearing less striking than the male’s.

See my article:
Hummingbird Parents: (Mating to Nesting)

Juvenile
Mexican Violetear Hummingbirds:

Male and female Mexican Violetear hummingbirds in their juvenile years resemble adult females until the male starts to develop the characteristic iridescent violet ear patches on either side of his neck. 

As juveniles molt into their first full set of feathers, the fluffy white undertail coverts become visible. These feathers are a distinguishing feature and are often more prominent due to their soft texture.

Baby
Mexican Violetear Hummingbirds:

Baby Mexican violetear hummingbirds are tiny, featherless, and have closed eyes at birth. They are pink-skinned and entirely dependent on their mother for warmth and food. 

As they grow, they develop gray down feathers, followed by iridescent green plumage. Their mother feeds them a mix of nectar and insects until they fledge at about 3 weeks old.

See my article:
Baby Hummingbirds: (Egg to Fledgling)

Hear the sounds of the Mexican Violetear hummingbird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology link).

From Mexico to Nicaragua, these hummingbird species are found on the outskirts of cloud forests, where they thrive in an environment with high levels of tropical humidity.
It is common to see this dark hummingbird at forest margins and clearings.

Mexican Violetear hummingbirds are semi-nomadic. Since they have not been thoroughly examined, scientists know very little about their migration patterns. 

Much like a lot of other hummingbird species, the Mexican Violetear hummingbird nests alone.
Although they do not feed in flocks, these hummingbirds are observed in groups around flowering trees, such as the coffee-shading Inga tree, where they scavenge for nectar and insects.

In terms of social behavior, Mexican Violetear hummingbirds are generally solitary, especially outside of the breeding season. They can be territorial, with males often defending prime feeding territories from other hummingbirds.

See my article:
Why Hummingbirds Chase Each Other: Is it Friend or Foe?

The oldest known Mexican Violetear hummingbird was documented to be at least 11 years and 2 months old.
This information is based on banding records, where birds are captured, banded with a unique identification ring, and then potentially recaptured or found in the future. 

The age of this particular Mexican Violetear was determined by the length of time between its initial banding and its last documented recapture or sighting.

See my article:
3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded