Order
Caprimulgiformes
Family
Trochilidae
Genus
Eriocnemis
 
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Version 1.0

This is a historic version of this account.  Current version

SPECIES

Sapphire-vented Puffleg Eriocnemis luciani

Thomas S. Schulenberg and Carolyn W. Sedgwick
Version: 1.0 — Published April 5, 2013

Systematics

Geographic Variation

Five subspecies recognized (Schuchmann et al. 2001):

meridae, described as Eriocnemis luciani meridae Schuchmann, Weller, and Heyen 2001; type locality Páramo Conejos, Mérida, Venezuela, 3000 m.

Known only from the holotype.

"Generally more bronze-green than E. l. luciani, in particular on head, back, and throat, but less bronzish than E. l. baptistae, thus fairly intermediate in coloration; feathers on crown, lores, malar area, and chin with highly iridescent copper fringes; chin and upper throat more emerald to golden instead of bluish green" (Schuchmann et al. 2001).

luciani, described as Trochilus luciani (Bonaparte 1847); type locality Guaca, Ecuador

Occurs in southwestern Colombia, northern Ecuador, and in southeastern Ecuador (Cordillera Cutucú; Schuchmann et al. 2001).

See Detailed Description.

baptistae, described as Eriocnemis luciani baptistae Schuchmann, Weller, and Heynen 2001; type locality "near Sinchig (=Sinche) and Guaranda, Bolívar, Ecuador

Occurs in south central Ecuador, from Chimborazo to Azuay, and possibly also adjacent Loja

Differs from nominate luciani "in the deep bronzy shine both of upperparts and underparts" (Schuchmann et al. 2001).

This subspecies is named in honor of Luis F. Baptista, "whose outstanding scientific contributions much improved our knowledge of the Neotropical avifauna" (Schuchmann et al. 2001).

catharina, described as Eriocnemis catharina Salvin 1897; type locality Leimebamba, Peru

Restricted to the Utcubamba Valley, northern Peru.

Lacks the blue forecrown of nominate luciani, although the crown has a slight bluish tinge; also, the belly of the male is blue (in certain lights) and the center of the belly of the female is whitish (Zimmer 1951).

sapphiropygia, described as Eriocnemis sappphiropygia [sic] Taczanowski 1874; type locality Maraynioc, Peru

Occurs along the east slope of the Andes from La Libertad south to Puno.

Similar to catharina, but lacks the blue tinge to the crown, and there is a bronzy or coppery tinge to the rear crown; generally lighter green, with a green belly (Zimmer 1951). Includes marcapatae Zimmer 1951, according to Schuchmann et al. 2001.

Subspecies


EBIRD GROUP (POLYTYPIC)

Eriocnemis luciani [luciani Group]


EBIRD GROUP (POLYTYPIC)

Eriocnemis luciani sapphiropygia/catharina

Related Species

Heynen (1999a, b) and Schuchmann et al. (2001) recognize two species, Eriocnemis luciani (Sapphire-vented Puffleg, including meridae, luciani, and baptistae) and Eriocnemis sapphiropygia (Coppery-naped Puffleg, including catharina and sapphiropygia).

A recent phylogenetic survey of the phylogenetic relationships of hummingbirds, based on DNA sequence data from both mitochondrial and nuclear genes, 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). Eriocnemis belongs to the brilliant clade, and is sister to Haplophaedia; the relationship of Eriocnemis + Haplophaedia to other genera in this clade is not well resolved. Other genera in the brilliant clade are Aglaeactis, Coeligena, Lafresnaya, Ensifera, Pterophanes, Boissonneaua, Ocreatus, Urosticte, Urochroa, and Heliodoxa (McGuire et al. 2007, 2009). This study including representatives of only 4 of the 11 species of Eriocnemis; Eriocnemis luciani is the basal species of these four (McGuire et al. 2007, 2009).

Recommended Citation

Schulenberg, T. S. and C. W. Sedgwick (2013). Sapphire-vented Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani), version 1.0. In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/nb.savpuf1.01