Birds Active during the day

Sparkling Violetear

Colibri coruscans

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A shimmering emerald icon of the Andes, the Sparkling Violetear is as bold in personality as it is in color. Famous for its vibrant violet ear patches and boisterous songs, this large hummingbird is the undisputed ruler of the high-altitude garden.

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Quick Identification

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Size

13-15 cm (5.1-5.9 in) long; wingspan 18-20 cm (7-8 in); weight 7-8.5 g (0.25-0.30 oz)

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Colors

Metallic emerald green body with glittering violet-blue patches on the ears and throat; blue-green tail with a dark subterminal band; sexes are monomorphic (look similar).

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Key Features

Prominent iridescent violet-blue ear patches
Large for a hummingbird with a slightly decurved black bill
Centrally located blue patch on the breast and belly
Constant, loud, metallic 'chip' vocalization

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-10 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primary nectar feeder targeting long, tubular flowers; also a proficient insect hunter that 'hawks' flies and midges mid-air.

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Habitat Highland gardens, parks, Andean cloud forest edges, and semi-open scrubland.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Sparkling Violetear Live?

The Sparkling Violetear is a signature inhabitant of the South American highlands, primarily following the massive curve of the Andes Mountains. Its native range spans from the northern mountains of Venezuela and Colombia, down through the heart of Ecuador and Peru, into Bolivia, and reaching its southern limits in northwestern Argentina and northern Chile. While it is most famous for its Andean presence, isolated populations also inhabit the unique, ancient flat-topped Tepui mountains within the Guiana Highlands of Venezuela, Guyana, and northern Brazil.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

9 Countries

4.8M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

CO Colombia

Marginal

EC Ecuador

Marginal

PE Peru

Marginal

BO Bolivia

Marginal

VE Venezuela

Marginal

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Sparkling Violetear is renowned for its bold, assertive personality. Unlike many smaller hummingbirds that flit away at the sight of competition, this species is highly territorial and will aggressively defend its favorite nectar sources from other birds, often chasing away larger species. It is remarkably well-adapted to human presence, making it a frequent visitor to backyard feeders and urban parks in high-altitude cities like Quito and Bogotá.

Socially, these birds are solitary but highly vocal. Males spend a significant portion of their day perched on high, exposed branches, emitting a persistent, repetitive metallic chirping sound to advertise their territory. During courtship, they perform impressive aerial displays, diving and spiraling to showcase their iridescent plumage. Despite their aggression toward rivals, they are fascinating to watch as they exhibit high levels of intelligence and memory regarding flower blooming cycles.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture the stunning iridescence of a Sparkling Violetear, camera placement is everything. Position your AI-powered camera within 3 to 5 feet of a nectar feeder or a cluster of tubular red flowers like Salvias or Fuchsias. Because these birds are larger and slower-moving than some tiny hummers, they provide a great subject, but you still need a fast shutter speed—ideally 1/2000s or higher—to freeze the wing motion. If your camera allows for manual focus, pre-focus on a specific feeder port or a prominent flower to ensure the bird’s eye is sharp when it enters the frame.

Lighting is the 'secret sauce' for this species. Their violet ear patches only 'sparkle' when the light hits them at a specific angle. Try to position your camera with the sun at your back, illuminating the bird from the front. The golden hours of early morning and late afternoon provide the best directional light to make those metallic feathers pop. If you are using a trail camera, look for a 'singing perch'—a high, bare twig where the bird repeatedly returns to chirp. This is often the best spot for a clear, unobstructed shot.

Don't overlook the audio capabilities of your camera. Sparkling Violetears are incredibly vocal; their repetitive, metallic 'tcheep-tcheep' is a staple of Andean soundscapes. If your camera has a high-quality microphone, you can capture their territorial calls, which are just as much a part of their identity as their colors. In the rainy season, these birds remain active, so ensuring your camera has a rain guard or a small overhang will allow you to capture unique footage of them bathing or shaking off water droplets.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Sparkling Violetear.

Lesser Violetear

Smaller in size with a cleaner green breast, lacking the central blue-violet belly patch found on the Sparkling Violetear.

Brown Violetear

Primarily dull brown and bronze in color rather than shimmering emerald green, though it shares the same violet ear patches.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sparkling Violetears are most active during the early morning (6-10 AM) and late afternoon (3-6 PM). They are often the first hummingbirds to arrive at feeders at dawn and among the last to leave at dusk.

In their native range, planting red or orange tubular flowers like Salvia, Fuchsia, or Eucalyptus will draw them in. They are also very fond of sugar-water feeders (4 parts water to 1 part white sugar) and appreciate high perches for surveying their territory.

Their diet consists primarily of nectar for energy and small insects or spiders for protein. They are known for 'hawking'—flying out from a perch to catch insects in mid-air.

Yes, they are exceptionally well-adapted to human environments. They are one of the most common hummingbird species found in Andean cities like Quito, Bogotá, and Cusco, often nesting in garden trees and shrubs.

The Sparkling Violetear is significantly larger and has a distinctive blue-violet patch on the center of its breast/belly, which the Lesser Violetear lacks. The Sparkling Violetear also has a much louder and more persistent song.

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