Western emerald

The western emerald (Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus) is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. While most taxonomic authorities recognize it as a separate species, the Birdlife International checklist considers it as a subspecies of either the blue-tailed emerald, C. mellisugus, or the red-billed emerald, C. gibsoni.[1][2]

Western emerald
Male in NW Eduador
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Chlorostilbon
Species:
C. melanorhynchus
Binomial name
Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus
Gould, 1860

It is found at altitudes from 600-2700m in Colombia and Ecuador.[3][4]

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, and heavily degraded former forest.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized:[5]

  • Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus melanorhynchus: Andes of sw Colombia (Nariño) and w Ecuador
  • Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus pumilus: Pacific slope of w Colombia and w Ecuador

Description

A small hummingbird. Males are entirely glittering emerald with a dark blue, deeply forked tail. Females are similar but with pale grey underparts, a dark cheek and a white line behind the eye.[6]

Western emerald

References
  1. del Hoyo (ed), Josep (2020). All the Birds of the World. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. p. 150. ISBN 978-84-16728-37-4.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. "Chlorostilbon [gibsoni or melanorhynchus]". Avibase. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  3. Ayerbe Quiñones, Fernando (2018). Guía ilustrada de la Avifauna colombiana. Bogotá: Puntoaparte Bookvertising. pp. Pl 35. ISBN 978-958-5461-03-1.
  4. Freile, Juan F; Restall, Robin (2018). Birds of Ecuador. London: Helm. p. 262. ISBN 978-1-4081-0533-7.
  5. "West Andean Emerald Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus". Avibase. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  6. "Western Emerald". EBird. Retrieved 31 December 2020.


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