Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis) - HBW 5, p. 659
French: Sylphe à queue violette
German: Langschwanzsylphe
Spanish: Silfo Celeste
Taxonomy: Cynanthus cœlestis Gould, 1861, Ecuador.
Genus name formerly given as Cyanolesbia, but this is not applicable. Forms a superspecies with A.kingi and A. berlepschi. Formerly treated as a race of A. kingi, but morphology and range, especially altitudinal distribution, indicate species status more apt; female notably different from that of A. kingi. Proposed race pseudocoelestis best considered synonymous with nominate, since morphological differences are superficial. Two subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- coelestis (Gould, 1861) - Pacific slope of W Andes of both Colombia and N & C Ecuador.
- aethereus (Chapman, 1925) - SW Ecuador, S from Zaruma.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
-
A female flying and returning to a branch several times Locality Tandayapa Lodge, Tandayapa Valley, Pichincha Province, Ecuador (ssp coelestis)
Anna Motis 16 August 2006 5 years ago 29 sec 4.9 -
A male at a feeder showing the brilliance of its tail Locality Tandayapa Valley, Pichincha Province, Ecuador (ssp coelestis)
Josep del Hoyo 31 January 2005 7 years ago 17 sec 4.9 -
A back-view of a perched male, showing its brilliant tail Locality Mindo Loma Lodge, Mindo Valley, Pichincha Province, Ecuador (ssp coelestis)
Josep del Hoyo 5 February 2005 7 years ago 25 sec 4.9 -
A female feeding at a feeder Locality Tandayapa Valley, Pichincha Province, Ecuador (ssp coelestis)
Josep del Hoyo 31 January 2005 7 years ago 23 sec 4.7 -
A male perched on the end of a branch Locality Sachatamia Lodge, Mindo Valley, Pichincha Province, Ecuador (ssp coelestis)
Josep del Hoyo 2 February 2005 7 years ago 30 sec 4.7 -
Young at a feeder in the rain Locality Bellavista Lodge, Tandayapa Valley, Pichincha Province, Ecuador (ssp coelestis)
Josep del Hoyo 1 February 2005 7 years ago 34 sec 4.7
-
Male perched on branch, showing iridescent plumage.
Locality Tandayapa Valley, Pichincha Province, Ecuador
Jorge Cruz 2 years ago 4.6 -
Adult male portrait
Locality Refugio Paz de las Aves, Mindo Valley, Pichincha Province, Ecuador
Rafael Merchante 13 November 2010 5 weeks ago 4.3 -
Male waiting for his turn near a feeder
Locality Mindo, Mindo Valley, Pichincha Province, Ecuador
Dubi Shapiro 7 January 2009 1 year ago 4.3 -
At Tony's feeder
Locality Tandayapa Valley, Pichincha Province, Ecuador
Guy Poisson 24 November 2011 1 year ago 4 -
male perched
Locality Mindo Loma Lodge, Mindo Valley, Pichincha Province, Ecuador (ssp coelestis)
Dusan Brinkhuizen 18 September 2009 3 years ago 4 -
A male
Locality Tandayapa Valley, Pichincha Province, Ecuador
Guy Poisson 24 October 2011 1 year ago 3.7
-
calls Locality Mindo Valley, Pichincha Province, Ecuador
(ssp coelestis)
Dusan Brinkhuizen 9 August 2009 3 years ago 3
Email this page