This rather gorgeous little bird is Euphonia violacea, or the Violaceous Euphonia (one of their many Brazilian names is the Bonito-lindo, or "pretty-pretty"). Found from Trinidad to Paraguay, this pair are actually Argentine, nesting by the Iguassu Falls - they rivalled the waterfalls for photographic attention, flitting around near their nest and with no concern for the tourists just a few feet away.
Violaceous Euphonias are fruit eaters on the whole, though they will take insects. As you can see the females and males are very different....
This is probably because females alone incubate the eggs, though both feed the young. The males, of course, have to display to catch females and so are much more conspicuous, though having said that, their colours are cunningly arranged so that from above they are almost completely dark blue. This means that viewed from above by hawks, their main predators, they are much more camouflaged than they might appear to us.
For a movie of this pair at Iguassu, which shows them off much better than a photograph could, go to...www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dF-PX5tWAU
The species has quite a pretty song, well "chirp"as well, but the males in particular are known for being mimics, especially of the alarm calls of other birds, which probably does not endear them to their neighbours. Anyway, for examples of their natural songs, and mimicries, go to...
www.xeno-canto.org/browse.php?query=Euphonia+violacea
2 comments:
I believe the movie is in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dF-PX5tWAU
Oops, yes you are right.
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