| Western emerald | |
|---|---|
_-NW_Eduador-8.jpg')) | |
| Male in NW Eduador | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Chlorostilbon |
| Species: | C. melanorhynchus |
| Binomial name | |
| Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus Gould, 1860 | |
The western emerald (Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus) is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. While most taxonomic authorities recognize it as a separate species, the Birdlife International checklist considers it as a subspecies of either the blue-tailed emerald, C. mellisugus, or the red-billed emerald, C. gibsoni.[1][2]
It is found at altitudes from 600-2700m in Colombia and Ecuador.[3][4]
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, and heavily degraded former forest.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized:[5]
- Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus melanorhynchus: Andes of sw Colombia (Nariño) and w Ecuador
- Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus pumilus: Pacific slope of w Colombia and w Ecuador
Description
A small hummingbird. Males are entirely glittering emerald with a dark blue, deeply forked tail. Females are similar but with pale grey underparts, a dark cheek and a white line behind the eye.[6]
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References
- ^ del Hoyo (ed), Josep (2020). All the Birds of the World. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. p. 150. ISBN 978-84-16728-37-4.
- ^ "Chlorostilbon [gibsoni or melanorhynchus]". Avibase. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ Ayerbe Quiñones, Fernando (2018). Guía ilustrada de la Avifauna colombiana. Bogotá: Puntoaparte Bookvertising. pp. Pl 35. ISBN 978-958-5461-03-1.
- ^ Freile, Juan F; Restall, Robin (2018). Birds of Ecuador. London: Helm. p. 262. ISBN 978-1-4081-0533-7.
- ^ "West Andean Emerald Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus". Avibase. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "Western Emerald". EBird. Retrieved 31 December 2020.