Violet-fronted Brilliant
Heliodoxa leadbeateri
The Violet-fronted Brilliant (Heliodoxa leadbeateri) is a rare hummingbird found in 5 countries, weighing about 7 g. The violet-fronted brilliant is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae.
About the Violet-fronted Brilliant
The violet-fronted brilliant is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The violet-fronted brilliant is 11 to 13 cm (4.3 to 5.1 in) long. Males weigh 7.1 to 8.5 g (0.25 to 0.30 oz) and females 6.6 to 7.5 g (0.23 to 0.26 oz). Both sexes have a medium length, almost straight, black bill, a white malar streak, and a small white spot behind the eye. They both have a forked tail but the female's is less deeply indented than the male's. Males of the nominate subspecies have bronzy green upperparts with a glittering blue forehead and a coppery neck. They have a glittering emerald green gorget and a dull bronzy green breast and belly. Voice: What is thought to be the violet-brilliant's song is "a continuous series of single strident 'chup' or 'tchep' notes". It also makes "a repeated, bright, descending phrase 'whee-tsee-tsee-tsew' that sounds like a jerky twittering."
Where it lives
When to see it
The Violet-fronted Brilliant can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Violet-fronted Brilliant?
- The violet-fronted brilliant is 11 to 13 cm (4.3 to 5.1 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Violet-fronted Brilliant?
- The Violet-fronted Brilliant is a tiny sized bird weighing about 7 g.
- Where can you see a Violet-fronted Brilliant?
- The Violet-fronted Brilliant occurs in 5 countries, including Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia and Bolivia.
- What birds look similar to a Violet-fronted Brilliant?
- The Violet-fronted Brilliant is most easily confused with the Gould's Jewelfront, the Empress Brilliant and the Black-throated Brilliant.
- Is the Violet-fronted Brilliant endangered?
- The Violet-fronted Brilliant is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Violet-fronted Brilliant for real
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