Bronze-tailed Comet (Polyonymus caroli)

Identification & Behavior: ~12.5 cm (5 in). The male Bronze-tailed Comet is dull green with a broad pink-purple gorget. The female is green above and greyish-green below with a broken gorget that shows only some iridescent pink-purple feathers. In both sexes, the bill is black and nearly straight. The tail is both sexes is forked and shows broad greenish central feathers and bronze upper side in the rest of the outer feathers. The female has a similar tail but has whitish outer tail feathers. The female Bronze-tailed Comet is similar to the Gray-bellied Comet, but it is distinguished by being smaller, stockier, a bill gently decurved, and a shorter tail.

Status: Endemic. The Bronze-tailed Comet is uncommon and widespread along the west slope of the Andes and inter-Andean valleys such as the Marañon and Mantaro Valleys. It is known to range at elevations of approximately 2100-3400 m.

Name in Spanish: Cometa de Cola Bronceada.

Sub-species: Bronze-tailed Comet (Polyonymus caroli), Bourcier, 1847.

Meaning of Name: Polyonymus: Gr. Polus= much and onoma=  name, fame. Famous, renowned, having many names. caroli: In honor of Charles Lucien Jules Laurent 2nd Prince of Canino and Musignano and Prince Bonaparte (1803-1857) French ornithologist.

See more of the Family Trochilidae