Colibri serrirostris (Vieillot, 1816)

Scientific Name and Common Name

Colibri serrirostris, commonly known as the white-vented violetear, measures 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in) in length and weighs 5.6 to 6.8 g (0.20 to 0.24 oz).

Male Plumage - Body

Males are mostly shiny green, a lighter shade than that of other violetear species. The plumage towards the rump is yellow-green with a blue shimmer.

Male Plumage - Tail and Undertail

The tail is glittering green with a wide steel-blue band near the tip, and the undertail coverts are pure white.

Male Plumage - Ear Patch

The area behind the eye that covers the ears is violet blue.

Female Plumage

Females are similar to males but are paler and more grayish in color.

Beak Morphology

The maxilla of individuals of both sexes is sometimes serrated, a feature that gives the species its specific epithet.

Distribution - Brazil Range

This hummingbird is found across a wide area of southern Brazil, ranging from Mato Grosso east to Goiás, Bahia, and Espírito Santo, and south to Santa Catarina.

Distribution - Neighboring Countries

Its range extends west into Bolivia, central Paraguay, and reaches into northern Argentina as far south as Córdoba Province.

Habitat Types

The white-vented violetear inhabits a variety of semi-open landscapes, including scrublands, savanna, grassland, and human-made gardens and parks.

Elevation Range

It is most common at elevations between 1,000 and 1,500 m (3,300 and 4,900 ft), though its overall elevation range starts at sea level and extends up to 3,600 m (11,800 ft) in the Andes.