Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Crimson Topaz (Topaza pella) - HBW 5, p. 563
French: Colibri topaze
German: Rotnacken-Topaskolibri
Spanish: Colibrí Topacio
Other common names: Topaz/Topaz-throated/King Hummingbird, Beautiful Topaz; Fiery/Inca Topaz (pyra)
Taxonomy: Trochilus Pella Linnaeus, 1758, Surinam.
Genus probably related to Eulampis and Anthracothorax, on basis of form of nest and display; has traditionally been placed close to Oreotrochilus. Race pyra often considered a separate species, but size and colour patterns indicate geographical variation only at subspecies level; some individuals of nominate race show glittering orange belly, thus resembling pyra. Race smaragdula has been proposed for birds of French Guiana, but not separable from nominate. Four subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- pyra (Gould, 1846) - SE Colombia, E Ecuador and NE Peru to NW Brazil (R Negro) and S Venezuela (Amazonas).
- pamprepta Oberholser, 1902 - E Ecuador (Suno, R Napo).
- pella (Linnaeus, 1758) - S Venezuela (E Bolívar) and the Guianas to N Brazil (Amapá).
- microrhyncha Butler, 1926 - NC Brazil, along S bank of lower Amazon in vicinity of Belém.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
-
a female nesting Locality Río Grande, Imataca Forest Reserve, Venezuela
DAVID ASCANIO 20 June 2009 39 weeks ago 43 sec 4.3 -
A front close view of a female Locality Río Grande, Delta Amacuro, Venezuela (ssp pella)
DAVID ASCANIO 28 February 2007 4 years ago 34 sec 4.3 -
A male on a branch, flying and returnig several times Locality Río Grande, Delta Amacuro, Venezuela (ssp pella)
DAVID ASCANIO 28 February 2007 4 years ago 51 sec 4.1 -
A male perched, looking back, calling and going away Locality Cuyuní River Road, Bolívar State, Venezuela (ssp pella)
DAVID ASCANIO 31 May 2007 4 years ago 14 sec 4 -
A male preening high in a tree, seen from below Locality Shiripuno River, Pastaza Province, Ecuador (ssp pamprepta)
Josep del Hoyo 26 August 2007 3 years ago 21 sec 3.3 -
A male high in a tree, shaking the plumage, stretching the tail and flying away when a bigger bird arrives Locality Shiripuno River, Pastaza Province, Ecuador (ssp pamprepta)
Josep del Hoyo 26 August 2007 3 years ago 24 sec 3.2
-
A male at Barquilla de Fresa, Bolivar, Venezuela
Locality Venezuela
Jim Watt 8 March 2008 3 years ago 4.3 -
Male calling to defend his territory
Locality Barquilla de Fresa, Las Claritas, Bolívar State, Venezuela
Chris and Megan Perkins 13 November 2008 3 years ago 4.2 -
Frontal view of a male perched on a twig
Locality Barquilla de Fresa, Las Claritas, Bolívar State, Venezuela
Dilia E. Garcia 24 July 2008 2 years ago 3.9 -
An adult male singing.
Locality Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil
Anselmo d Affonseca 6 weeks ago 3.8 -
A perched male.
Locality Las Claritas, Bolívar State, Venezuela (ssp pella)
Nick Athanas 26 October 2005 3 years ago 3.5 -
Female perched
Locality Barquilla de Fresa, Las Claritas, Bolívar State, Venezuela
Chris and Megan Perkins 15 November 2008 3 years ago 3.3
-
Calls from an adult male on territory. Locality Pousada Rio Azul, Pará State, Brazil
(ssp microrhyncha?)
Bradley Davis 31 July 2007 2 years ago 4
Email this page