Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)

Tyrian Metaltail (Metallura tyrianthina) - HBW 5, p. 651

French: Métallure émeraude German: Smaragdkehl-Glanzschwänzchen Spanish: Metalura Tiria

Taxonomy: Trochilus tyrianthinus Loddiges, 1832, Popayán, Colombia.
Geographical variation is complex, reflecting a southern origin and progressive morphological change in respect of female throat and breast coloration towards north. Race districta in N Colombia forms “leapfrog” pattern with race smaragdinicollis in Peru and N Bolivia. Proposed race peruviana synonymous with smaragdinicollis. Seven subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

districta Bangs, 1899 - Santa Marta and Perijá Mts (NE Colombia).
chloropogon (Cabanis & Heine, 1860) - Caribbean coastal range (N Venezuela).
oreopola Todd, 1913 - Andes of Venezuela (Lara, Trujillo, Mérida).

See all 7 subspecies

districta Bangs, 1899 - Santa Marta and Perijá Mts (NE Colombia).
chloropogon (Cabanis & Heine, 1860) - Caribbean coastal range (N Venezuela).
oreopola Todd, 1913 - Andes of Venezuela (Lara, Trujillo, Mérida).
tyrianthina (Loddiges, 1832) - NW Venezuela (SW Táchira) through all Andean chains of Colombia and E & S Ecuador to extreme N Peru.
quitensis Gould, 1861 - NW Ecuador.
septentrionalis Hartert, 1899 - Andes of Peru (W of R Marañón).
smaragdinicollis (d’Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1838) - E Andes of Peru and N Bolivia.