Violet-crowned Hummingbird
Ramosomyia violiceps
Unlike most other hummingbirds, both males and females of this species share the same striking plumage, featuring a bright white underbelly and a violet-blue cap.
- Scientific name
- Ramosomyia violiceps
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Apodiformes › Trochilidae › Ramosomyia
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Canyon riparian woodlands, oak sycamore forests, arid scrublands, and suburban gardens.
- Diet
- Floral nectar (especially from agave, desert willow, and honeysuckle) and small insects caught mid-air.
- Range
- Mexico, United States (Arizona), United States (New Mexico)
- Size
- 10 cm (4 inches) long, weighing approximately 5 grams
- Lifespan
- 3 to 5 years in the wild
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss in riparian corridors, climate change altering flowering timelines, and pesticide use reducing insect prey.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and docile. Safe to observe from any distance, especially near nectar feeders or flowering agaves. Avoid disturbing their delicate nests, which are woven with plant down and spider webs. If you find an injured bird, gently place it in a ventilated box and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately.
The violet-crowned hummingbird ( Ramosomyia violiceps ) is a hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Mexico and the southwestern United States.
Photo: Matt Felperin, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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