Amazilia
Encyclopedia
Amazilia is a hummingbird
genus
in the subfamily Trochilinae
. It occurs in tropical Central
and South America
.
listed here are occasionally placed in the genera Agyrtria, Polyerata and Saucerottia. But most authorities, notably the SACC, do not accept the validity of these until more comprehensive studies are available, instead placing them all in Amazilia. The IUCN and BirdLife International
, after splitting up the genus Amazilia for some time, have followed the SACC's argument and treats these hummingbirds as a single genus until enough data is available for a thorough revision.
But regardless, the present arrangement is only temporary; it is generally recognized that Amazilia in the broad definition is overly inclusive and perhaps not even monophyletic, and that some species would be better moved to one or more distinct genera. However, the monophyly of the proposed additional genera is not conclusively established either.
Two additional species in Amazilia are sometimes included in Leucippus
today as they are markedly distinct, but this placement requires confirmation. These are the White-bellied Hummingbird
(A. chionogaster) and the Green-and-white Hummingbird
(A. viridicauda).
Agyrtria group
Polyerata group
Saucerottia group
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
in the subfamily Trochilinae
Trochilinae
Trochilinae is a subfamily of the hummingbird family . Members of the subfamily Trochilinae are sometimes called typical hummingbirds. They typically display iridescent plumage in metallic reds, oranges, greens and/or blues...
. It occurs in tropical Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
Systematics
Some of the speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
listed here are occasionally placed in the genera Agyrtria, Polyerata and Saucerottia. But most authorities, notably the SACC, do not accept the validity of these until more comprehensive studies are available, instead placing them all in Amazilia. The IUCN and BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
, after splitting up the genus Amazilia for some time, have followed the SACC's argument and treats these hummingbirds as a single genus until enough data is available for a thorough revision.
But regardless, the present arrangement is only temporary; it is generally recognized that Amazilia in the broad definition is overly inclusive and perhaps not even monophyletic, and that some species would be better moved to one or more distinct genera. However, the monophyly of the proposed additional genera is not conclusively established either.
Two additional species in Amazilia are sometimes included in Leucippus
Leucippus (bird)
Leucippus is a genus of hummingbirds. Its members are found in western South America. Two species, A. chionogaster, the White-bellied Hummingbird and A. viridicauda, the Green-and-white Hummingbird are commonly placed in the genus Amazilia, while a third species, T...
today as they are markedly distinct, but this placement requires confirmation. These are the White-bellied Hummingbird
White-bellied Hummingbird
The White-bellied Hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. It is found at forest edge, woodland, scrub and gardens in the Andes, ranging from northern Peru south through Bolivia to north-western Argentina. There are also lowland populations in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and...
(A. chionogaster) and the Green-and-white Hummingbird
Green-and-white Hummingbird
The Green-and-white Hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. It is endemic to the East Andean slope in Peru, where generally restricted to areas near humid forest. It is commonly seen at Machu Picchu...
(A. viridicauda).
Species
Amazilia sensu stricto- White-bellied HummingbirdWhite-bellied HummingbirdThe White-bellied Hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. It is found at forest edge, woodland, scrub and gardens in the Andes, ranging from northern Peru south through Bolivia to north-western Argentina. There are also lowland populations in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and...
, Amazilia chionogaster - Green-and-white HummingbirdGreen-and-white HummingbirdThe Green-and-white Hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. It is endemic to the East Andean slope in Peru, where generally restricted to areas near humid forest. It is commonly seen at Machu Picchu...
, Amazilia viridicauda - Rufous-tailed HummingbirdRufous-tailed HummingbirdThe Rufous-tailed Hummingbird is a medium-sized hummingbird that breeds from east-central Mexico, through Central America and Colombia, east to western Venezuela and south through western Ecuador to near the border with Peru...
, Amazilia tzacatl- Escudo HummingbirdEscudo HummingbirdThe Escudo Hummingbird is a hummingbird in the subfamily Trochilinae. It was long considered a doubtfully distinct species, but more recently it is generally treated as a subspecies of the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, A. tzacatl.It is endemic to Isla Escudo de Veraguas in Panama...
, Amazilia (tzacatl) handleyi
- Escudo Hummingbird
- Chestnut-bellied HummingbirdChestnut-bellied HummingbirdThe Chestnut-Bellied Hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found only in Colombia....
, Amazilia castaneiventris - Amazilia HummingbirdAmazilia HummingbirdThe Amazilia Hummingbird is a species of hummingbird, a family of small near passerine birds. The Loja Hummingbird , with less rufous to the underparts, is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Amazilia Hummingbird....
, Amazilia amazilia- Loja HummingbirdLoja HummingbirdThe Loja Hummingbird, Amazilia alticola, is a species of hummingbird found in southern Ecuador and northern Peru in the edges of cloud forest and open scrub between 1000 and 2200 m altitude. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Amazilia Hummingbird, Amazilia...
, Amazilia (amazilia) alticola
- Loja Hummingbird
- Buff-bellied HummingbirdBuff-bellied HummingbirdThe Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Amazilia yucatanensis, is a medium-sized hummingbird. It is long and has a mass of .Adults are a metallic olive green above and buffy in the lower breast. The tail and primary wings are rufous in color and slightly forked. The underwing is white. The bill of the male...
, Amazilia yucatanensis - Cinnamon HummingbirdCinnamon HummingbirdThe Cinnamon Hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found from northwestern Mexico to Costa Rica....
, Amazilia rutila
- Plain-bellied EmeraldPlain-bellied EmeraldThe Plain-bellied Emerald is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. It is found from north-eastern Venezuela, through the Guianas, to around São Luís in Brazil. Smaller disjunct population are found in north-eastern Brazil as far south as Bahia. It occurs in a wide range of semi-open...
, Amazilia leucogaster or Agyrtria leucogaster - Versicoloured EmeraldVersicoloured EmeraldThe Versicoloured Emerald , sometimes placed in the genus Agyrtria, is a species of hummingbird from central and eastern South America.- Taxonomy :...
, Amazilia versicolor or Agyrtria versicolor- Blue-green Emerald or Rondonia Emerald, Amazilia (versicolor) rondoniae or Agyrtria (versicolor) rondoniae
- White-chested EmeraldWhite-chested EmeraldThe White-chested Emerald, Amazilia brevirostris, is a hummingbird found in eastern Venezuela, the Guianas, Trinidad and far northern Brazil . It has sometimes been placed in the genus Agyrtria, and the name A. chionopectus was formerly used for this species, as the name A. brevirostris was...
, Amazilia brevirostris or Agyrtria brevirostris - formerly A. chionopectus - White-bellied EmeraldWhite-bellied EmeraldThe White-Bellied Emerald is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua....
, Amazilia candida or Agyrtria candida - Andean EmeraldAndean EmeraldThe Andean Emerald is a species of hummingbird found at forest edge, woodland, gardens and scrub in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador and northern Peru. It is generally fairly common. It is green above and white below. Some subspecies have a blue crown.-External links:* on the Internet Bird Collection...
, Amazilia franciae or Agyrtria franciae - Azure-crowned HummingbirdAzure-crowned HummingbirdThe Azure-Crowned Hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua....
, Amazilia cyanocephala or Agyrtria cyanocephala- Mosquitia Hummingbird, Amazilia (cyanocephala) chlorostephana or Agyrtria (cyanocephala) chlorostephana
- Violet-crowned HummingbirdViolet-crowned HummingbirdThe Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Amazilia violiceps, is a medium-sized hummingbird. It is 10 cm long and weighs approximately 5 g.The bird is best distinguished by its violet-colored cap, from where it gets its name. Adults are colored predominantly a dark olive green for their upperparts and tail....
, Amazilia violiceps or Agyrtria violiceps - Green-fronted HummingbirdGreen-fronted HummingbirdThe Green-fronted Hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.-Taxonomy:It includes the subspecies wagneri, which sometimes is considered a separate species, the Cinnamon-sided Hummingbird .-Distribution and habitat:It is found in Belize and Mexico...
, Amazilia viridifrons or Agyrtria viridifrons- Cinnamon-sided Hummingbird, Amazilia (viridifrons) wagneri or Agyrtria (viridifrons) wagneri
Polyerata group
- Glittering-throated EmeraldGlittering-throated EmeraldThe Glittering-throated Emerald , sometimes placed in the genus Polyerata, is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family....
, Amazilia fimbriata or Polyerata fimbriata - Sapphire-spangled EmeraldSapphire-spangled EmeraldThe Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Amazilia lactea, is a species of hummingbird that occurs in Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil from the Amazon south to Santa Catarina; there are uncertain records from east Ecuador. Both male and female have a bright "sapphire" blue chest and chin and green-blue...
, Amazilia lactea or Polyerata lactea - Blue-chested HummingbirdBlue-chested HummingbirdThe Blue-Chested Hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Panama....
, Amazilia amabilis or Polyerata amabilis - Charming HummingbirdCharming HummingbirdThe Charming Hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Costa Rica and Panama.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest....
, Amazilia decora or Polyerata decora - Purple-chested HummingbirdPurple-chested HummingbirdThe Purple-Chested Hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Colombia and Ecuador....
, Amazilia rosenbergi or Polyerata rosenbergi - Mangrove HummingbirdMangrove HummingbirdThe Mangrove Hummingbird, Amazilia boucardi, is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found only in Costa Rica.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical mangrove forests....
, Amazilia boucardi or Polyerata boucardi - Honduran EmeraldHonduran EmeraldThe Honduran Emerald, Amazilia luciae, is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found only in Honduras.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland....
, Amazilia luciae or Polyerata luciae
Saucerottia group
- Steely-vented HummingbirdSteely-vented HummingbirdThe Steely-vented Hummingbird is a medium-sized hummingbird that is a resident breeder from western Nicaragua to Costa Rica, and also in Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. The Central American birds differ in voice and behaviour from those in South America and may be a separate species, the ...
, Amazilia saucerrottei or Saucerottia saucerrottei- Blue-vented Hummingbird, Amazilia (saucerrotei) hoffmanni or Saucerottia (saucerrottei) hoffmanni
- Copper-rumped HummingbirdCopper-rumped HummingbirdThe Copper-rumped Hummingbird, Amazilia tobaci, sometimes placed in the genus Saucerottia, is a small bird that breeds in Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, and has occurred as a vagrant on Grenada. It is a seasonal migrant in parts of Venezuela....
, Amazilia tobaci or Saucerottia tobaci - Indigo-capped HummingbirdIndigo-capped HummingbirdThe Indigo-capped Hummingbird , sometimes placed in the genus Saucerottia, is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Colombia...
, Amazilia cyanifrons or Saucerottia cyanifrons- Alfaro's Hummingbird or Miravalles Hummingbird, Amazilia (cyanifrons) alfaroana or Saucerottia (cyanifrons) alfaroana - probably extinct (c.1900)
- Snowy-breasted HummingbirdSnowy-breasted HummingbirdThe Snowy-bellied Hummingbird , sometimes placed in the genus Saucerottia, is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family...
, Amazilia edward or Saucerottia edward - Blue-tailed HummingbirdBlue-tailed HummingbirdThe Blue-tailed Hummingbird , sometimes placed in the genus Saucerottia, is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua....
, Amazilia cyanura or Saucerottia cyanura - Berylline HummingbirdBerylline HummingbirdThe Berylline Hummingbird, Amazilia beryllina, sometimes placed in the genus Saucerottia, is a medium-sized hummingbird. It is 8-10 cm long, and weighs 4-5 g.- Overview :...
, Amazilia beryllina or Saucerottia beryllina - Green-bellied HummingbirdGreen-bellied HummingbirdThe Green-bellied Hummingbird , also known as the Tepui Hummingbird and sometimes placed in the genus Saucerottia, is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family...
, Amazilia viridigaster or Saucerottia viridigaster- Copper-tailed Hummingbird, Amazilia (viridigaster) cupreicauda or Saucerottia (viridigaster) cupreicauda