Sparkling Violetear vs Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Colibri coruscans compared with Ocreatus addae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sparkling Violetear | Rufous-booted Racket-tail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Colibri coruscans | Ocreatus addae |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.1 cm (5.9 in) | — |
| Weight | 6.683333333333334 g (0.24 oz) | 3.0 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore ranging widely across forest canopy and edges. Defends flowering trees; catches small insects in … | Nectarivore of Bolivian and Peruvian cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and bromeliads. Gleans small insects from … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Sparkling Violetear
Deep, resonant buzz with hollow quality; low-pitched churring sound vibrating softly through broad-leaved forest.
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Deep, resonant hum barely audible; extremely low vibration barely perceptible during hovering near high-altitude flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Sparkling Violetear
Widespread in Andean highlands from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Found at 1,500–4,200 m.
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Found in cloud forests of northern Bolivia and adjacent Peru and Brazil at 400–1,400 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Sparkling Violetear
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
About These Birds
Sparkling Violetear
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) with glittering green plumage and violet ear patches. Found widely across the Andes from Venezuela to Argentina at 1,500-4,500 m. Nectarivore, one of the most abundant and conspicuous hummingbirds in Andean gardens and forest edges.
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
A small hummingbird (8-10 cm plus tail rackets) found in Andean cloud forests of southeastern Peru and Bolivia at 1,200-2,200 m. Males have rufous leg puffs instead of white. Recently split from Booted Racket-tail. Nectarivore of montane forest undergrowth.