ANIMAL:Violaceous Euphonia Euphonia violacea
Type of Animal:
Songbird
Habitat:
Forest, second growth, cocoa plantations, citrus plantations, forest borders, clearings, gardens, woodlands, orchards, parks
Location(s):
Far E Colombia, Venezuela, Guiana Shield, N & E Brazil, extreme NE Peru, tiny area of Bolivia bordering Brazil, E Paraguay, far NE Argentina, extreme NW Uruguay, Trinidad, Tobago
Appearance:
Male has glossy blue-black upper body w/ deep golden yellow forehead/belly/chest, females/juveniles olive green above & greenish yellow below
Food/Diet:
Fruit, berries, nectar, insects, vegetables, greens, eggs
Status in Wild:
Stable
Conservation:
Breeding in zoos, wildlife centers, & aviculture
Lifestyle:
Flocks of 2-10 birds
Additional Info:Called:
Male: Cock
Female: Hen
Young: Chick
Group: Flock
Weight:
0.5 oz
Gestation:
2 weeks
Life Span:
5 years
Height:
4.48 in
Body Length:
4.48 in
Tail Length:
0.55 in
Often flock w/ other bird species
Build well-hidden ball-shaped nests w/ side entrance out of leaves/moss/plant fibers.
Females lay 3-5 red-blotched white eggs per clutch.
Song varied mix of musical notes/squeaks/chattering/imitation.
Forages at all levels.
Play important role in seed dispersal due to diet.
Female does all incubation but both parents take care of chicks.
Chicks fledge at 2 weeks but stay w/ parents until they reach 2 months old & reach sexual maturity a month later but often don’t breed until 1st year.
Feathers 1st appear at 5 days old.
Eyes open at 8 days old.
Start eating independently at 24 days old.
Usually breed throughout the year.
Fun Fact(s):
Sometimes kept as cage birds due to beauty & song.
Once considered to be tanagers, they’re actually members of finch family.
Gut specially adapted to digest poisonous mistletoe berries.
