Purple-throated Sunangel
Encyclopedia
The Purple-throated Sunangel, Heliangelus viola, is a species of midsized hummingbird
in the genus Heliangelus
. It is found in western Ecuador
and northwestern Peru
. Its natural habitat
s are subtropical or tropical moist montane
forests and heavily degraded former forest at an elevation ranging from 2150 to 3050 meters. It forages in the midstory of the forest for nectar. The sunangel is one of the more common hummingbirds in the Andean
highlands and is more habituated to both human settlement and open habitats than many of its relatives. It is listed by the IUCN as a species of Least Concern due to its large range and its treatment as a frequently-seen species across much of its range.
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
in the genus Heliangelus
Heliangelus
Heliangelus is a genus of hummingbirds found in montane South America. The species are collectively known as sunangels.It contains the following species:* Amethyst-throated Sunangel...
. It is found in western Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and northwestern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s are subtropical or tropical moist montane
Montane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
forests and heavily degraded former forest at an elevation ranging from 2150 to 3050 meters. It forages in the midstory of the forest for nectar. The sunangel is one of the more common hummingbirds in the Andean
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
highlands and is more habituated to both human settlement and open habitats than many of its relatives. It is listed by the IUCN as a species of Least Concern due to its large range and its treatment as a frequently-seen species across much of its range.