Collared Inca (Coeligena torquata)

Identification & Behavior: ~14 cm (5.5 in). The Collared Inca shows geographic variation. Most forms have a green iridescent cap and are green and dusky green with a white breast, and white tail with dark or green edges. Only the sub-species omisa of southeast Peru has a cinnamon breast and throat (in the female). The female eisemanni also has a cinnamon throat. The bill in all forms is black and straight. The only other hummingbird that shows a flashy white tail in the forest is the Mountain Velvetbreast, which is all green otherwise.

Status: The Collared Inca is fairly common in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 1800-3000 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Inca Acollarado.

Sub-species: Collared Inca (Coeligena torquata torquata), Boissonneau, 1840. Andes of NW Venezuela (Táchira) through Colombia and E Ecuador to N Peru (E Piura).
(Coeligena torquata margaretae), J. T. Zimmer, 1948. E slope of Andes of N Peru (C Amazonas to E La Libertad and San Martín).
(Coeligena torquata insectivora), Tschudi, 1844. E slope in C Peru (Huánuco to Ayacucho).
(Coeligena torquata eisemanni), Weske, 1985. S Peru (Cordillera Vilcabamba).
(Coeligena torquata omissa), J. T. Zimmer, 1948. Andes of SE Peru (Urubamba to Puno)

Meaning of Name: Coeligena:  L. coelum or caelum=  heaven and gignere=  to bring forth. torquata: L. torquatus=  collared.

See more of the Family Trochilidae