Garnet-throated hummingbird

First described by Rene Primevere Lesson as Ornismya rhami in 1838, the garnet-throated hummingbird was moved to its current genus, Lamprolaima, by Ludwig Reichenbach in 1854.[2]

It is the only member of the genus Lamprolaima,[3] a name which is a combination of two Greek words: lampros, meaning brilliant or radiant and laimos, meaning throat.[4] The specific epithet commemorates Henri-Casimir de Rham, a Swiss diplomat to the United States who was founder of the Swiss Benevolent Society in New York, a businessman, naturalist and collector.[5]

The garnet-throated hummingbird is a large hummingbird, ranging from 4.5 to 5 in (11 to 13 cm) in length[6] and from 7 to 9.5 g (0.25 to 0.34 oz) in weight.[7] The male has an iridescent emerald green back, bright rufous wings and a dark purple tail. His chest is iridescent violet, his abdomen black, and his throat has an iridescent garnet-red patch surrounded by black. The female lacks the throat and chest colors of the male; instead, she is sooty gray below.[6]

Although the International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists this species as being of Least Concern,[1] the Mexican government lists it as Threatened.[8]