Mexican Violetear
A species of Violet-ears, Also known as Mexican Green Violetear Scientific name : Colibri thalassinus Genus : Violet-ears
Mexican Violetear, A species of Violet-ears
Also known as:
Mexican Green Violetear
Botanical name: Colibri thalassinus
Genus: Violet-ears
Photo By Richard Crossley , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The Mexican violetear is roughly medium-sized by hummingbird standards. It averages around 9.7 to 12 cm (3.8 to 4.7 in) in total length. Its bill is black and mostly straight with only a slight downward curve and measures from 1.8 to 2.5 cm (0.71 to 0.98 in). The body mass can vary from 4.8 to 5.6 g (0.17 to 0.20 oz). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 5.8 to 6.8 cm (2.3 to 2.7 in) and the tail is 3.5 to 4.3 cm (1.4 to 1.7 in). The bird has a wingspan of 12 cm. It is shining green above with a glittering violet ear-patch on the sides of its neck. Its throat and chest are a glittering green with a shining green belly. The tail is a metallic blue-green with more bronzy central feathers and a prominent black subterminal band. 
Size
10 cm (4 in)
Feeding Habits
Mexican Violetear primarily feeds on nectar and small insects. It hovers to drink nectar from flowers, demonstrating a unique preference for certain plant species. Additionally, it catches insects in flight, showcasing agile hunting adaptations.
Habitat
Mexican Violetear typically inhabits montane regions, thriving in the highland borders of subtropical or tropical montane forests. They are also commonly found in pine-oak woodlands. These birds can be spotted in environments characterized by clearings and pasturelands, provided that these areas contain scattered trees offering suitable nesting sites and foraging opportunities.
Dite type
Nectivorous
Migration Overview
Seasonal movements of the Mexican violetear are not well understood. Many individuals of northern populations move south or and/or to lower elevations following the end of the breeding season (July to November in Mexico), but regular occurrence hundreds of kilometres north of this range suggests a more complex migration strategy.
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird Feeder Type
Nectar Feeder
Distribution Area
The Mexican violetear breeds from the highlands of southern Mexico south to Nicaragua. It is a rare but annual nonbreeding visitor to the United States, primarily southern and central Texas, with scattered records as far north as extreme southern Canada. According to IUCN C. thalissinus can be found in much of montane areas of the northern Andes, stretching from Bolivia to Venezuela.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Swifts and hummingbirds Family
Hummingbirds Genus
Violet-ears Species
Mexican Violetear 
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