This interesting species was discovered by Mr. F. Simons in Northern Colombia, where he met with it at Manaure, San Sebastian, and San José, in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta.
It is described by Messrs. Salvin and Godman as being very closely allied to Panychlora stenura, but distinguished by the coppery tint on the tail and wing-coverts. They further remark:—
The tail-feathers are wide and rounded at their ends, and rather longer than usual in members of this genus; but their peculiar metallic colour at once indicates the position of the species.
The following is a translation of the original description:—
Golden green; the fore part of the head and the whole under surface of the body very brilliant, the wing-coverts tinged with copper; the tail elongated and having a coppery-green shine; bill deep black. ‘Total length 3 inches, bill 1·7, tail 1·3, bill from gape 0·75.
The female is greyish white below, with the ear-coverts black; tail shiny green, towards the base with a subterminal band of steel-black; all the tail-feathers except the two middle ones tipped with white.
I am indebted to Messrs. Salvin and Godman for the loan of the typical specimens which are figured in the accompanying Plate, on which are represented an adult male and female.
Featuring all 422 illustrated species from John Gould’s A Monograph of the Trochilidæ, or Family of Humming-Birds arranged by color.
Humming-Birds
