Systematics

Monotypic. Peterson (1999) suggested that "the two [disjunct] populations of present species show some differences in plumage characters, possibly representing two races", but Ortiz-Pulido et al. (2002) concluded that "morphological differences between the populations appear minor, [and are] not deserving of formal taxonomic recognition".

Described as Trochilus eliza (Lesson and DeLattre) in 1839, with a type locality of "Pau du Taureau, entra la Vera Cruz et Xalapa". The genus Doricha was erected by Reichenbach in 1854, with type species enirura (Slender Sheartail).

Some authors place both species of Doricha in the genus Calothorax (e.g. Howell and Webb 1995).

A recent phylogenetic survey of the phylogenetic relationships of hummingbirds, based on DNA sequence data from both mitochondrial and nuclear genes, did not include representatives of Doricha (or of Calothorax) (McGuire et al. 2007, 2009). This survey reveals that hummingbirds (Trochilidae) constitute nine major clades, comprising the hermits, mangos, Patagona, topazes, coquettes, brilliants, mountain-gems, bees, and emeralds (McGuire et al. 2007, 2009). Doricha is presumed to belong to the bee clade; other genera confirmed as belonging to this clade are Archilochus, Calliphlox, Calypte, Chaetocercus, Myrtis, Rhodopis, and Selasphorus (McGuire et al. 2007), and additional genera that are assumed to belong to this clade, besides Doricha, are Atthis, Calothorax, Eulidia, Mellisuga, Microstilbon, Myrmia, Tilmatura, and Thaumastura (McGuire et al. 2009).