Violet-bellied hummingbird
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Clade:	Strisores
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Trochilidae
Genus:	Chlorestes
Species:	C. julie
Binomial name
Chlorestes julie (Bourcier, 1843)
Synonyms
Juliamyia julie, Damophila julie

The violet-bellied hummingbird (Chlorestes julie) is a species of hummingbird characterized by the male's shimmering violet belly.^[3]

The scientific name of this bird is currently Chlorestes julie, however, it was previously described as Juliamyia julie.^[4] Its genus being Chlorestes which is in the hummingbird family: Trochilidae.^[5] This family belongs to the order Apodiformes which includes hummingbirds and swifts.^[6] Within this species rank are three subspecies: panamensis, julie, and feliciana.^[3] Each are only separated by very minute features. Chlorestes julie panamensis occurs in Panama and has a head the same dull metallic green color as its back.^[4] Chlorestes julie julie and feliciana both have a brilliant green metallic back although julie has a shorter bill (14.5 mm) and a bluer belly whereas feliciana has a longer bill (15.1 mm) and a more violet belly.^[4] While julie occurs in Northern Columbia, feliciana occurs in western Ecuador and the extremely northwestern parts of Peru.^[3]

The violet-bellied hummingbird is characterized by the male's shimmering violet belly.^[3] The rest of its body is just as brilliant; its back and crown being a metallic green.^[3] The violet belly, however, is not shared between the sexes as this species exhibits sexual dimorphism.^[7] The characteristics they do share include long, rounded tails, straight and short bills, and pink lower mandibles.^[7][3]

Adult:

• The male violet-bellied hummingbird is more brightly colored than its female counterpart.^[3] Its breast and belly is a violet blue while its back, crown, and throat is a metallic green.^[3] While the rump is more of a bronze green.^[3] The rectrices are a blue black while the belly and undertail coverts are a dull black with a blue/green sheen.^[3] Around the tibia are white tufts which are framed by partly white spots on its belly.^[3] The feathers on its wings are dusky with a purple sheen.^[3] On average males are 7.5 cm long and weigh 3.4 g.^[8][3]
• The female violet-bellied hummingbird is more dull than its male counterpart.^[3] Though its back, crown, and throat, is a similar metallic bronze green, its belly is a pale gray rather than a bright violet.^[3] Its rump and uppertail coverts are more bronze than green while undertail coverts are a dull brown gray.^[3] The rectrices can also be a blue black or a blueish green, and the outer rectrices are tipped with pale gray.^[3] Similar to the males, the females' wings are dusky with a purple sheen.^[3] Commonly in subspecies panamensis, the sides of the throat may be spotted with metallic green.^[3] On average females are 7 cm long and weigh 3.0 g.^[3][8]

Juvenile plumage has only been documented for immature males. They appear similar to an adult female although they may have some patches of violet on their belly or a sparkling green foreneck.^[3][7]

The molt pattern of this species is also yet to be described.

Violet-bellied hummingbirds are very easily confused with woodnymphs.^[3] The green crowned woodnymph, in particular, has a similar color and shape and their ranges overlap.^[9] To tell them apart, you must check their size, color, and tail; violet-bellied hummingbirds are smaller, their backs are green instead of violet, and their tails are rounded, not notched.^[3] Green crowned woodnymphs also have a violet forecrown.^[3] Another similar species is the Sapphire-throated Hummingbird because of its colors.^[3] However, it has a blue throat, a green belly, and a notched tail.^[3]

Violet-bellied hummingbirds are found in central Panama, through Columbia, extending to southwestern Ecuador and the extreme northwestern point of Peru.^[3] Different subspecies have different habitats within this range (see Taxonomy and Systematics section). None of which experience seasonal migration.^[3] This species is present in the understory of humid deciduous forests, forest edges, and regrowth forests.^[3]

As with many species of hummingbirds, violet-bellied hummingbirds seem to be polygynous.^[3] Males mate with multiple females and attract them by singing on perches about 1–10 m high.^[3] They may also fly in a 'u' shape in front of the females.^[10] However, after mating, they leave the female to rear the young.^[10] Individuals do not mate for life nor do they aggregate in flocks.^[10]

The females are responsible for creating nests and rearing the young.^[10] She creates a nest from plant fibers, animal hair and feathers in a shrub or a tree, approximately 1.2 to 4.2 m above ground.^[10][3] She will then incubate the clutch of two white eggs, each 8 by 13 mm.^[3] Incubation lasts 15 days followed by a 20-22 day nestling period.^[3] The chicks are altricial when they hatch and thus rely on their mother to feed and defend them.^[10] If successful, violet-bellied hummingbirds go on to live for approximately 4.2 years.^[11]

Violet-bellied hummingbirds are primarily considered nectarivorous but may more accurately be called omnivorous.^[3] They consume nectar from plants in the Rubiaceae, Ericaceae, Gesneriaceae (Besleria), and Fabaceae (Inga) families.^[3] They also eat small arthropods, as do many other species of hummingbirds.^[3] Males may defend their feeding territory from other males and large insects.^[10] Although violet-bellied hummingbirds do not form flocks, they may congregate at fruit trees and feeders.^[9] The violet-bellied hummingbird's predators are not known.

According to their IUCN Red List conservation status of least concern, the violet-bellied hummingbird does not seem to be threatened.^[11] They are tolerant to disturbed areas such as forest edges.^[3]

Tourists and locals alike may join in bird watching tours around Panama where the violet-bellied hummingbird is one of the featured birds.^[12]

The violet-bellied hummingbird is assessed as least concern by the IUCN Red List conservation status.^[11] Their population remains large and they have a wide distribution.^[11]

• Violet-bellied Hummingbird photo avesphoto
• Violet-bellied Hummingbird photo; Article
• Violet-bellied Hummingbird photo (?); Article page; Article Colombia Curiosa