Thalurania glaucopis (J.F.Gmelin, 1788)

Nomenclature

The violet-capped hummingbird (scientific name Thalurania glaucopis (J.F.Gmelin, 1788), also called violet-capped woodnymph) measures 8 to 11 cm (3.1 to 4.3 in) in total length.

Size and Weight

Males weigh 4 to 6.1 g (0.14 to 0.22 oz), while females weigh 4 to 5 g (0.14 to 0.18 oz). Both sexes share a medium-length straight blackish bill, which sometimes has a dark brown tip on the lower mandible.

Adult Male Plumage

Adult males have a glittering violet-blue forehead and crown, dark golden-green upperparts, and a steel blue forked tail. Their underparts are brilliant green, with greenish to bluish undertail coverts.

Adult Female Plumage

Adult females are entirely green on their upperparts and dirty white to pale buff on their underparts. Their tail is only slightly forked; the inner tail feathers are metallic green, and the outer feathers are steel blue with white tips.

Subadult Male Plumage

Subadult males have a turquoise-blue forehead and crown, whitish bars on throat feathers, and grayish brown areas on their underparts.

Distribution

This species is distributed across eastern and southeastern Brazil from Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul, Misiones Province in northeastern Argentina, eastern Paraguay, and northern Uruguay.

Habitat and Elevation

It inhabits the interior and edges of primary forest, scrublands, and suburban and urban parks and gardens, and occurs at elevations ranging from sea level to 850 m (2,800 ft).