Purple-throated Sunangel
Heliangelus viola
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="heliangelus-viola"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/heliangelus-viola/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/heliangelus-viola/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/heliangelus-viola/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="heliangelus-viola"></birdfyi-bird>About
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Ecuador to Peru at 1,800-3,200 m. Males have a deep purple-violet throat gorget. Green plumage. Nectarivore of montane forest edges, particularly partial to flowering Ericaceae shrubs.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 12.6 cm | 5.0 in |
| Weight | 5.433333333333333 g | 0.19 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Peruvian Metaltail: males with iridescent violet gorget; metallic green back; very long bill; females green above; pale spotted underparts
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Found in Andean cloud forests of southern Ecuador and northern Peru at 1,600–3,000 m elevation.
Diet & Feeding
Nectarivore strongly associated with Ericaceae in treeline habitats. Catches small insects on the wing for essential amino acids.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Clutch Size
2
Sound
Song
Soft, liquid warbling with gentle character; mellow notes flowing easily in quiet musical phrase at forest edge.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) |
| Genus | Heliangelus |
| Species | Heliangelus viola |
Distribution
Purple-throated Sunangel has been recorded in 2 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Purple-throated Sunangel eat?
Where does the Purple-throated Sunangel live?
Is the Purple-throated Sunangel endangered?
What does the Purple-throated Sunangel sound like?
How big is the Purple-throated Sunangel?
What order and family does the Purple-throated Sunangel belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Trochilidae family