<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='360446'>Purple-crowned Plovercrest

En bref

• Scientific Name: Stephanoxis loddigesii
• Spanish Name: Colibrí crestado coronimorado
• Famille : Trochilidae
• Known Nicknames: Purple-crowned Plovercrest, Loddiges' Plovercrest
• Average Length: 8–9 cm / 3.1–3.5 in
• Average Weight: 2.5–3.5 g / 0.09–0.12 oz
• Wingspan: 11–13 cm / 4.3–5.1 in
• Key Feature: Male has a long, decurved bill and a striking violet-purple crown and crest
• Primary Diet: Nectarivore (primarily nectar, also small insects)
• Range: Southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina
• Habitat: Atlantic Forest understory, forest edges, and secondary growth
• Social Structure: Solitary or loosely territorial
• Nesting/Breeding: Small cup-shaped nest built on a horizontal tree branch
• Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
• Évolution démographique : En baisse

The Purple-crowned Plovercrest (*Stephanoxis loddigesii*) is a dazzling hummingbird endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, instantly recognizable by its most striking feature: a vivid, iridescent violet-blue crest that sweeps back from the crown like a tiny, feathered crown. This small, energetic bird measures about 9 centimeters in length, with the male sporting a brilliant green body, a white-tipped tail, and a long, slightly decurved black bill perfectly adapted for sipping nectar from flowers. A special feature is its dramatic courtship display, where the male hovers before a female, flaring his crest and fanning his tail to create a shimmering visual spectacle. Beyond its beauty, this species plays a vital ecological role as a key pollinator of understory plants, making it a charismatic and important inhabitant of its shrinking forest home.

Faits amusants

Despite its regal name, the male Purple-crowned Plovercrest is a tiny aerial show-off, performing dramatic U-shaped dives during courtship that produce a loud, mechanical *whirring* sound from its specially modified wing feathers—a sonic boom in miniature. Its shimmering purple crown isn't just for looks; the iridescent feathers are structured to reflect ultraviolet light, making it appear even more dazzling to other plovercrests while remaining muted to predators. As a nectar specialist, it has evolved a tongue with fringed tips that unfurls faster than a hummingbird can blink, allowing it to lap up nectar from deep, curved flowers that rival beaks can't reach.

Habitats et répartition

The Purple-crowned Plovercrest inhabits humid montane forests, forest edges, and secondary growth, typically favoring areas with dense understory vegetation and abundant epiphytes. It is often found near streams or in ravines within the Atlantic Forest biome, ranging from sea level up to around 1,200 meters in elevation. Its geographical range is restricted to southeastern Brazil, occurring primarily in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo, with isolated records also extending into northeastern Argentina and eastern Paraguay. The species is considered endemic to the Atlantic Forest region, where its distribution is patchy and largely dependent on intact or well-regenerated forest habitats.

Comportements & Reproduction

The Purple-crowned Plovercrest is generally solitary or found in loose pairs, with males defending small display territories during the breeding season. Courtship involves the male performing a distinctive aerial display, where he hovers and sings while flashing his iridescent purple crown to attract a female. Mating is brief, and the male takes no part in nesting or parental care. The female builds a small cup-shaped nest, typically in a low shrub, where she lays two eggs and incubates them alone for about 14–16 days. A unique reproductive strategy is the species' reliance on specific flowering plants, such as bromeliads and heliconias, which provide both nectar for energy and nesting materials, timing its breeding to coincide with peak bloom periods to ensure food for the chicks.

Alimentation

The Purple-crowned Plovercrest is primarily a nectarivore, feeding on the nectar of various flowering plants, particularly those with tubular blossoms like species of *Malvaviscus*, *Inga*, and *Eucalyptus*, which it accesses using its long, specialized tongue. An interesting dietary fact is that while nectar forms the bulk of its energy intake, it also actively consumes small insects and spiders, especially during the breeding season, to obtain essential proteins for egg production and chick rearing. Additionally, this hummingbird exhibits a behavior known as trap-lining, where it follows a consistent, repeatable route to visit a series of specific flowers, efficiently managing its energy expenditure while defending these feeding territories from other nectar-feeding birds.

Couleurs

The male Purple-crowned Plovercrest displays a brilliant, iridescent violet-blue crown and elongated crest, contrasting with a metallic green upper body, a white chest, and a dark blue-black belly. Females lack the crest and vibrant crown, instead showing a duller green back, pale underparts, and a subtle white stripe behind the eye. No specific camouflage adaptations are noted, but the female’s muted colors provide effective concealment during nesting.