Mexican Violetear

GuatemalaMexico

Jul 17

Mexican Violetear (Colibri thalassinus)

Name Origin:
The genus Colibri is the French adaptation of a Cariban word for hummingbird. The species name thalassinus means “sea-colored” in Latin, referring to the bird’s shimmering green and blue tones.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 9.5–12 cm
⚖️ Weight: 5.5–6.5 g
🌎 Range: Highlands of Mexico through Central America into western Panama
🧭 Elevation: 900–3,000 m
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Montane forest, forest edge, and clearings with flowering trees
🧬 Clade: Polytminae (a.k.a. “mangoes”)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution

Monotypic — no subspecies recognized.

Species Overview

The Mexican Violetear is a widespread highland hummingbird known for its vibrant iridescence and loud, mechanical calls. It is mostly green with a prominent violet cheek patch that glows in the light. It frequently visits flowering trees and gardens and is often heard before it is seen. This species is highly mobile, with some individuals showing altitudinal or local movements depending on bloom cycles.

Male Description:
Emerald green overall with a violet patch on the sides of the head, slightly forked tail, and a medium-length straight black bill. Tail is greenish-bronze with violet reflections and darker edges.

Female Description:
Similar to the male in plumage, though slightly duller overall. Violet cheek patch is usually smaller or less defined.

Habitat & Behavior:
Found in humid montane forest, second growth, and flower-rich clearings. Often perches high and sings persistently in a rapid, wiry trill. It is aggressive at feeders and flowering trees, frequently chasing off other hummingbirds. Forages at canopy and mid-level, often in mixed-species groups during peak flowering seasons.

Conservation Note:
The Mexican Violetear is common and adaptable across its range. It tolerates moderately disturbed habitats and frequently uses human-altered areas with flowering trees and shrubs. Its population is stable, and it is not currently threatened.