Brazilian ruby female perched on Canna indica, Brazil

The Brazilian ruby (Clytolaema rubricauda) is a species of hummingbird found in forest edge, second growth, gardens and parks in eastern Brazil. It is the only species placed in the genus Clytolaema. Although sometimes placed in the genus Heliodoxa, with the brilliants, the Brazilian Ruby is more typically treated as the sole member of a monotypic genus, Clytolaema, one of a great many hummingbird genera described by John Gould. It is common and among the species regularly seen at hummingbird feeders within its range. It is a relatively large hummingbird. Both sexes of this hummingbird are attractive and distinctive. Males are primarily clad in deep green, with a brilliant deep red throat patch, a small but obvious white postocular spot, browner wings, and a bright red tail, while females share the spot behind the eye and the tail color of the male, but are otherwise rich orange over the entire underparts and on the rump. The male is overall green with a coppery back and rump, a coppery-rufous tail and, as suggested by its common name, a highly iridescent ruby throat that can appear black from some angles. Females are green above and cinnamon below. Both sexes have a white […]

Humming bird silhouette, Atlantic rainforest, Brazil

The violet capped woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis) is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in forest (primarily humid), dense woodland, gardens and parks in south-eastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, Uruguay, and far north-eastern Argentina (primarily Misiones Province). Violet-capped Woodnymphs inhabit a wide range of habitats from untouched forests, to scrub, to suburban and city gardens. They gather nectar from both native and non-native flowers and also hunt for insects. During certain parts of the year, Violet-capped Woodnymphs migrate short distances. Males have a bluish violet cap and sparkle with dark green above and gold-green below. Females are dark greenish above and off-white below. During the breeding season, these woodnymphs adorn the outside of their nests with ferns and lichen. The violet capped woodnymph Forages for nectar at a great variety of native and introduced plants, from low in understorey to canopy level. The male is distinctive, being overall green with a blue cap and deeply forked dark blue tail. It is occasionally confused with the swallow-tailed hummingbird. The female lacks the blue crown, has entirely greyish-white underparts, and a shorter, white-tipped tail. It is widespread and generally common, and therefore considered to be of Least Concern by […]

Perched Red Breasted Toucan, Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

  The Red Breasted Toucan is the smallest species of Ramphastos. This also is the most southern species of toucan, occuring from east central Brazil south to eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina. In parts of its range, in southeastern Brazil, the Red-breasted Toucan overlaps geographically with a distinctive subspecies (ariel) of Channel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus). Both of these toucans are superficially similar, with an orange throat and breast, red belly and tail coverts, and red orbital skin. But they easily can be distinguished by bill color: mostly black in Channel-billed, and mostly light green in Red-breasted. These two species also have similar “croaking” vocalizations, although the calls of Red-breasted are more raucous. The two species tend to segregate by elevation, with Red-breasted in montane forests and Channel-billed restricted to the lowlands. It is one of the smallest species of Ramphastos toucans, weighing 265–400 grams (9.4–14.2 oz.) and measuring 40–46 cm (16–18 in) long in total.[2] Its beak is one of the shortest of Ramphastos toucans at only about 10 cm (4 in) in length. Its breast is actually orange, with yellow at the sides. The beak is mostly pale greenish-horn, leading to its common name. In aviculture, their requirement of […]

Preening Red Breasted Toucan, Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

The Red Breasted Toucan is the smallest species of Ramphastos. This also is the most southern species of toucan, occuring from east central Brazil south to eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina. In parts of its range, in southeastern Brazil, the Red-breasted Toucan overlaps geographically with a distinctive subspecies (ariel) of Channel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus). Both of these toucans are superficially similar, with an orange throat and breast, red belly and tail coverts, and red orbital skin. But they easily can be distinguished by bill color: mostly black in Channel-billed, and mostly light green in Red-breasted. These two species also have similar “croaking” vocalizations, although the calls of Red-breasted are more raucous. The two species tend to segregate by elevation, with Red-breasted in montane forests and Channel-billed restricted to the lowlands. It is one of the smallest species of Ramphastos toucans, weighing 265–400 grams (9.4–14.2 oz.) and measuring 40–46 cm (16–18 in) long in total.[2] Its beak is one of the shortest of Ramphastos toucans at only about 10 cm (4 in) in length. Its breast is actually orange, with yellow at the sides. The beak is mostly pale greenish-horn, leading to its common name. In aviculture, their requirement of spacious cages, […]

Ruffled Green billed toucan, Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

The Green billed Toucan is the smallest species of Ramphastos. This also is the most southern species of toucan, occuring from east central Brazil south to eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina. In parts of its range, in southeastern Brazil, the Red-breasted Toucan overlaps geographically with a distinctive subspecies (ariel) of Channel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus). Both of these toucans are superficially similar, with an orange throat and breast, red belly and tail coverts, and red orbital skin. But they easily can be distinguished by bill color: mostly black in Channel-billed, and mostly light green in Red-breasted. These two species also have similar “croaking” vocalizations, although the calls of Red-breasted are more raucous. The two species tend to segregate by elevation, with Red-breasted in montane forests and Channel-billed restricted to the lowlands. It is one of the smallest species of Ramphastos toucans, weighing 265–400 grams (9.4–14.2 oz.) and measuring 40–46 cm (16–18 in) long in total.[2] Its beak is one of the shortest of Ramphastos toucans at only about 10 cm (4 in) in length. Its breast is actually orange, with yellow at the sides. The beak is mostly pale greenish-horn, leading to its common name. In aviculture, their requirement of spacious cages, a […]