Golden-tailed Sapphire

About the Golden-tailed Sapphire

The golden-tailed sapphire (Chrysuronia oenone) is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. The golden-tailed sapphire was formerly placed in the genus Amazilia. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 found that Amazilia was polyphyletic. In the revised classification to create monophyletic genera, the golden-tailed sapphire was moved by most taxonomic systems to Chrysuronia. However, BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) retains it in Amazilia.

The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) recognizes two subspecies of golden-tailed sapphire, the nominate C. o. oenone and C. o. josephinae. The Clements taxonomy and HBW add a third, C. o. alleni, that the IOC includes within josephinae.

The golden-tailed sapphire is 9.5 to 10 cm (3.7 to 3.9 in) long. Males weigh 4.7 to 6.3 g (0.17 to 0.22 oz) and females 4.3 to 5.3 g (0.15 to 0.19 oz). Both sexes of all subspecies have a slightly curved bill with a black maxilla and a black-tipped red mandible.

Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a violet-blue head and throat... Wikipedia →