# 002 Lesser violetear displaying its ears to a Green-crowned brilliant in Los Quetzales National Park Photo by Giles Laurent

- By: Giles Laurent
- Date: 2024-08-03
- Classification: Photograph
- Museum: [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:002_Lesser_violetear_displaying_its_ears_to_a_Green-crowned_brilliant_in_Los_Quetzales_National_Park_Photo_by_Giles_Laurent.jpg)
- Rights: [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
- Picture: https://invisiblenetwork.ai/thumbs/commons/thumb/6/6c/002_Lesser_violetear_displaying_its_ears_to_a_Green-crowned_brilliant_in_Los_Quetzales_National_Park_Photo_by_Giles_Laurent.jpg/1920px-002_Lesser_violetear_displaying_its_ears_to_a_Green-crowned_brilliant_in_Los_Quetzales_National_Park_Photo_by_Giles_Laurent.jpg
- Who can see it: Kids profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Lesser violetear displaying its “ears” to a Green-crowned brilliant in Los Quetzales National Park, Costa Rica. Both of these birds are very territorial. A Lesser violetear displays its violet "ears" by flaring the feathers out from the sides of its head. This is usually a threatening gesture, used when the bird is defending its territory or fighting with other hummingbirds. The display is a way to make itself appear larger. The intimidating gestures of the Lesser violetear (which was also moving its wings and tail quickly) worked and the Green-crowned brilliant flew away after a few seconds.