Purple-crowned Plovercrest (Stephanoxis loddigesii)

Name Origin:
The genus Stephanoxis combines Greek stephanos meaning “crown” and oxys meaning “sharp” or “pointed,” referring to the species' ornate crest. The species epithet loddigesii honors George Loddiges, a 19th-century British horticulturist and bird collector.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 9.5–11 cm (3.7–4.3 in)
⚖️ Weight: ~3.5–4.2 g (0.12–0.15 oz)
🌎 Range: Southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina
🧭 Elevation: 400–1,200 m
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Humid forest edge, secondary growth, and scrub with scattered trees
🧬 Clade: Trochilini (a.k.a. “emeralds”)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution

Monotypic — no subspecies recognized.

Species Overview

The Purple-crowned Plovercrest is a unique and highly recognizable hummingbird of the Atlantic Forest region. Males are known for their tall, iridescent violet crest and contrasting white throat patch. Their dramatic appearance and display flights make them conspicuous during the breeding season, especially in lekking areas. Females are far more subdued but still show the species’ distinctive structural shape and behavior.

Male Description:
Metallic green upperparts, striking violet-purple crest, white throat bordered with iridescent green, and a slightly forked dark tail. The long crest flares upward and backward when raised, used in courtship and dominance displays.

Female Description:
Lacks the crest, with metallic green upperparts and pale grayish underparts. White-tipped tail and similar size to the male, but less bold in coloration. Face pattern and posture still resemble the species' overall profile.

Habitat & Behavior:
Prefers the edges of humid forests, especially transitional or second-growth areas with scattered flowering shrubs and trees. Males form loose leks where they display by hovering and flicking their crests. Forages by hovering at flowers or chasing small insects. Often perches conspicuously between feeding bouts. Not particularly aggressive outside of lek displays.

Conservation Note:
While deforestation and habitat fragmentation continue across the Atlantic Forest, the Purple-crowned Plovercrest remains locally common and adapts to degraded or secondary habitats. It benefits from its use of forest edges and regenerating landscapes. Protected populations exist in several reserves in southern Brazil and adjacent regions of Paraguay and Argentina.