This Humming-bird is easily recognizable from the other species of Oreopyra by its metallic purple throat, the other two species having white throats.
It was originally described by Mr. Salvin from specimens procured by Enrique Arce on the Volcan de Cartago in Costa Rica, and it has since been obtained in the State of Panama.
The following is a translation of Mr. Salvin’s original description:—
Back greenish; head with the breast bluish green, very brilliant, the latter being more distinctly green; entire throat and chin glittering violet-red; ear-coverts and sides of nape black; a long postocular streak of white, extending as far as the nape; belly dull ashy, slightly washed with green; vent uniform, the feathers margined with white; wings purplish black, the wing-coverts green; tail steel-blue. Total length A inches, wing 2·6, tail 1·4, longest tail-feathers 1·5, bill from gape 1.
Two males and a female, of the natural size, are depicted in the Plate, drawn from typical specimens lent to us by Messrs. Salvin and Godman.
[R. B. S.]
Featuring all 422 illustrated species from John Gould’s A Monograph of the Trochilidæ, or Family of Humming-Birds arranged by color.
Humming-Birds
