| General Comments |
Accidental. In 2016, The AOU Check-List Committee split the former Green Violetear into two species -- the Mexican Violetear (of Mexico and Central America) and the Lesser Violetear (of South America). Each of the three North Carolina records appear to be of Mexican Violetear, based on the violet-blue on the chest as seen in photos and described in written details. Interestingly, all three records are from the mountain region, and all are documented by photos: one, seen by hundreds of birders, in Asheville, 21-25 Oct 1987* [Chat 60:147-149 link]; one banded and photographed in Burnsville (Yancey), 3-5 Sep 1995* [Chat 60:147-149 link]; and one, Newland (Avery), 6-11 Oct 2003* [Chat 68:2 link]. Photos of the 2003 bird are posted on the Carolina Bird Club Photo Gallery. |
