Thaumatias viridiceps

The present species, which I have no hesitation in pronouncing new to science, may be regarded as one of the most recently discovered members of the family Trochilidæ, since I received it direct from Quito in the year 1860.

The bird, it is true, has several representatives in other parts of South America, particularly in the eastern and north-eastern parts of that country. It far exceeds most of the other members of the genus Thaumatias in the size and strength of its bill and in the robustness of its body. Although I have said I received this bird direct from Quito, it must not be supposed that I mean that it is found in the immediate vicinity of that city; on the contrary, I am convinced that it is not, and believe that its proper habitat is the warmer district of Nanegal, as it was accompanied by other species which are known to inhabit that part of Ecuador. I possess three specimens of this bird, which it would appear comprise representatives of both sexes; and if such be the case, then the female merely differs from the male in being of smaller size, in having a less brilliantly coloured crown, and the two outer tail-feathers tipped with greyish white.

This somewhat remarkable species is almost as stout in its bill, head, and body as the members of the genus Cyanomyia, while its tail is short and the feathers narrow, as in Thaumatias leucogaster and T. chionopectus.

Crown of the head, nape, and sides of the neck glittering light green; back and shoulders bronzy green; throat and abdomen pure white; flanks white, faintly spotted with yellowish green; under tail-coverts white; tail-feathers purplish grey, with an obscure band of purplish brown near the tip of the three outer ones on each side; upper mandible black; under mandible yellowish, except at the extreme tip, which is black.

The figures are of the size of life. The plant is the Evelyna Caravata.

References

More hummingbirds in the genus Thaumatias

• Thaumatias candidus White-breasted Emerald
• Thaumatias chionopectus Snowy-throated Emerald
• Thaumatias leucogaster White-throated Emerald
• Thaumatias Milleri Miller’s Emerald
• Thaumatias nitidifrons Brilliant-fronted Emerald
• Thaumatias brevirostris Short-billed Emerald
• Thaumatias affinis Allied Emerald
• Thaumatias chionurus White-tailed Emerald
• Thaumatias albiventris White-bellied Emerald
• Thaumatias Linnæi Linnæus’ Emerald