Birds

Velvet-purple Coronet

February 24, 2011 by Mike 8 Comments

Because one good hummingbird deserves another, I’d like to brighten your day, perhaps even improve your overall quality of life by introducing one of the most resplendent hummingbirds in the world. Imagine taking a quick glimpse at your hummingbird feeder and getting a good sunlit luck at one of these…

Bam! You just laid eyes on a Velvet-purple Coronet (Boissonneaua jardini), you lucky devil you.

The genus Boissonneaua includes three high-quality coronets, all attainable in humid Andean forests. The Velvet-purple Coronet happens to be endemic to the Chocó region encompassing northwestern Ecuador and western Colombia. I was fortunate to encounter many of these amethyst marvels at the legendary Refugio Paz de las Aves in Ecuador.

Velvet-purple Coronets really shine amidst a family of stunning, jewel-toned birds. Their name alone conjures color and opulence and smooth whiskey. They may look dark, even drab in shadow, but get them in good light and the fireworks begin…

BirdLife International considers Boissonneaua jardini a species of Least Concern, despite its restricted range. I consider it one of the most beautiful birds I’ve ever seen. You undoubtedly will too!


Forgive the blurry shot, but you should see this coronet’s bronzy underwing

Written by Mike
Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds in 2003, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird.