Speckled Hummingbird (Adelomyia melanogenys)

Identification & Behavior: ~9.5 cm (4 in).  The Speckled Hummingbird is green above. It has a distinctive dusky mask across the eye and pale superciliary line from the eye down the head. The underparts are brownish with greenish speckling. The tail is dusky with white or brown tips depending on the sub-species. The head pattern resembles that of a Black-throated Hermit (or other hermits in general), but it is distinguished by the speckled underparts and square tail. Also, see a female Blue-tailed Emerald.

Status: The Speckled Hummingbird is common in montane forests of the east slope. It also occurs in the humid west slope (Piura and Cajamarca) of the Andes at elevations ranging between 1000-2900 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Colibrí Jaspeado.

Sub-species: Speckled Hummingbird (Adelomyia melanogenys melanogenys),  Fraser, 1840. E range in Colombia S on E slope to SC Peru.
(Adelomyia melanogenys maculata), Gould, 1861. W slope of Andes from SW Colombia (Nariño) S to NW Peru (La Libertad).
(Adelomyia melanogenys inornata), Gould, 1846. SE Peru, and Yungas of Bolivia.

Meaning of Name: Adelomyia: Gr. Adēlos=  obscure, unknown myia,  myias= very small. melanogenys: Gr. melas, melanos=  black and genus, genuos=  cheek, chin, jaw.

See more of the Family Trochilidae