Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)

Black Inca (Coeligena prunellei) - HBW 5, p. 627

French: Inca noir German: Blauschulter-Andenkolibri Spanish: Inca Negro

Taxonomy: Trochilus Prunellei Bourcier, 1843, Facativa, Colombia.
Relationships uncertain within the complex containing C. wilsoni, present species, C. torquata and C. inca; further studies needed. Forms a superspecies with C. wilsoni. Taxonomic status of “C.assimilis” uncertain: could represent a valid race of present species or a variation; further study required. “C. purpurea”, from Popayán (SC Colombia), may be hybrid of present species and C.coeligena; alternatively, might be a dark variety of C. wilsoni. Monotypic.

Distribution: NC Colombia on W slope of C Andes (Quindío) and in E Andes (SE Santander, W Boyacá, W Cundinamarca).