Stripe-breasted Starthroat Heliomaster squamosus Scientific name definitions

The Stripe-breasted Starthroat is generally considered to be a Brazilian endemic, where it is found from Pernambuco south to Sao Paulo, but has recently been seen in Argentina, at Iguazú National Park, on the border with Brazil. It is an attractive and relatively distinctive bird; breeding-plumaged males are principally green, with a broad white vertical stripe over the central underparts, and a glittering violet-colored throat, while females are principally grayish white below, with a paler but still obvious central stripe, and green throat discs (eclipse males generally resemble females). The species is found in both forested areas and open grassland, and generally occurs to about 800 m, although it sometimes ranges higher. There is mainly no overlap with other species of Heliomaster.