Eucephala pyropygia

This is the latest-described of all the species of Sapphires, and seems to be a very distinct one.

It is allied to E. hypocyanea, but is distinguished by its glittering head; and its habitat is supposed to be Ecuador; but this is not yet satisfactorily ascertained. Messrs. Salvin and Godman write further:—

Its position in this genus seems to be certainly next to E. hypocyanea, near to which E. subcærulea, Elliot, must also stand; but from both these species it differs in having a shining green crown, slightly washed with blue.

The following is a translation of the original description given by Messrs. Salvin and Godman:—

Green, with the top of the head and the under surface of the body shining bluish green, the whole of the middle of the throat washed with brighter blue; lower back russet, with the upper tail-coverts coppery reddish; wings dusky; tail only slightly rounded, steel-black. Total length 3·4 inches, wing 1·9, centre tail-feathers 1·1, outer ones 1·0, bill from gape 0·9.

References

More hummingbirds in the genus Eucephala

• Eucephala Grayi Blue-headed Sapphire
• Eucephala smaragdo-cærulea Green and Blue Sapphire
• Eucephala chlorocephala Green-headed Sapphire
• Eucephala cæruleo-lavata Reeve’s Sapphire
• Eucephala hypocyanea Blue-breasted Sapphire
• Eucephala cærulea Blue-chinned Sapphire
• Eucephala scapulata Black-bellied Sapphire
• Eucephala subcærulea Blue-breasted Sapphire
• Eucephala cyanogenys Blue-faced Sapphire