Bird
Bird
Violaceous Euphonia
Euphonia violacea
The Violaceous Euphonia is a small, richly coloured songbird common across Trinidad and Tobago, the male displaying a deep violet-blue sheen across the crown and upperparts against a vivid yellow underside, and, like other euphonias, closely associated with mistletoe berries in its diet.
The Violaceous Euphonia is a small, richly coloured songbird common across Trinidad and Tobago, the male displaying a deep violet-blue sheen across the crown and upperparts against a vivid yellow underside, and, like other euphonias, closely associated with mistletoe berries in its diet.
Identification
A small, compact bird around 11 cm long. The male has a glossy violet-blue crown, nape, and back, a bright yellow forehead patch, and rich golden-yellow underparts. The female is duller olive-green above and yellowish below, without the male's glossy violet-blue tones. The short, stubby bill is typical of the euphonia group.
Ecology
The Violaceous Euphonia feeds heavily on mistletoe berries as well as other small fruit, and plays an important role in dispersing mistletoe seeds through the forest canopy and garden trees. It forages actively, often in small groups, moving through fruiting trees at forest edge and in gardens, and its high-pitched, wheezy song is a frequent sound of semi-open habitat across both islands.
Status in T&T
Common across both Trinidad and Tobago in forest edge, gardens, and semi-open woodland with fruiting and mistletoe-bearing trees. It is not threatened. It is protected under the Conservation of Wildlife Act and is not a game species.
Threats
- No significant threats; adapts well to garden and forest-edge habitat
