Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)

White-eared Hummingbird (Basilinna leucotis) - HBW 5, p. 612

French: Saphir à oreilles blanches German: Purpurstirn-Saphirkolibri Spanish: Colibrí Orejiblanco

Taxonomy: Trochilus leucotis Vieillot, 1818, Brazil; error = Orizaba, Veracruz.
Genus often merged into Hylocharis, though external morphology suggests closer relationship to Lampornis. Forms a superspecies with B. xantusii. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • borealis (Griscom, 1929) - N Mexico (Sonora, Chihuahua, Tamaulipas); rarely to SW USA (SE Arizona).
  • leucotis (Vieillot, 1818) - highlands of C & S Mexico to Guatemala.
  • pygmaea Simon & Hellmayr, 1908 - highlands of El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.