About Chlorestes julie (Bourcier, 1843)
Chlorestes julie, commonly called the violet-bellied hummingbird, is characterized by the shimmering violet belly found on males. A male's back and crown are a brilliant metallic green, matching the bright coloration of the rest of its body. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, meaning females do not share the distinctive violet belly seen in males. Both sexes share several common traits: long, rounded tails, straight short bills, and pink lower mandibles. Violet-bellied hummingbirds range from central Panama, through Colombia, extending to southwestern Ecuador and the extreme northwestern point of Peru. Different subspecies occupy different habitats within this overall range, and none of the subspecies perform seasonal migration. This species occurs in the understory of humid deciduous forests, along forest edges, and in regrowth forests. Violet-bellied hummingbirds are primarily classified as nectarivorous, but they are more accurately described as omnivorous. They feed on nectar from plants in the Rubiaceae, Ericaceae, Gesneriaceae (genus Besleria), and Fabaceae (genus Inga) families. Like many other hummingbird species, they also eat small arthropods. Males may defend their feeding territories from other males and large insects. While this species does not form flocks, individual violet-bellied hummingbirds may congregate to feed at fruit trees and feeding stations. The predators of the violet-bellied hummingbird are not currently known.
