Violet-throated Starfrontlet (Coeligena violifer)

Identification & Behavior: ~14 cm (5.5 in). The Violet-throated Starfrontlet has a green head and breast that grades to buff towards the belly. The frontlet is iridescent green. The gorget in the male is an iridescent violet patch on the throat.  The tail is notched and buff with a broad dusky terminal band, and dusky-greenish central pair of tail feathers. The tail is mostly white in the albicaudata sub-species.  The bill is black and straight. It is similar to Rainbow Starfrontlet, but is distinguished by a green head and breast, and dusky terminal tail band. Several species may be involved.

Status: The Violet-fronted Starfrontlet is fairly common and widespread in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 2500-3900 m. It also occurs in Bo.

Name in Spanish: Inca de Garganta Violeta.

Sub-species: Violet-throated Starfrontlet (Coeligena violifer dichroura), Taczanowski, 1874. E slope of Andes of N & C Peru (S to Junín); relict population in W Peru (Lima).
(Coeligena violifer albicaudata), Schuchmann and Züchner, 1998. Apurímac drainage, in NE Ayacucho, N Apurímac and SW Cuzco (S Peru).
(Coeligena violifer osculans), Gould, 1871. E Andes of SE Peru (SE of Urubamba).

Meaning of Name: Coeligena:  L. coelum or caelum=  heaven and gignere=  to bring forth. violifer: L. viola=  violet and fer, ferre =  carrying, to carry..

See more of the Family Trochilidae