Rainbow Starfrontlet
Coeligena iris
Silhouette: PhyloPic · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderApodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)
- FamilyTrochilidae (Hummingbirds)
- GenusCoeligena (Incas and Starfrontlets)
- SpeciesCoeligena iris (Rainbow Starfrontlet)
About the Rainbow Starfrontlet
The rainbow starfrontlet (Coeligena iris) is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Ecuador and Peru. The rainbow starfrontlet has these six subspecies: C. i. hesperus Gould (1865)
C. i. iris Gould (1853) C. i. aurora Gould (1853) C. i. flagrans Zimmer, JT (1951) C. i. eva Salvin (1897) C. i. fulgidiceps Simon (1921) Early in the 20th century, subspecies C. i. hesperus, C. i. aurora, C. i. eva were considered to be separate species. "Striking differences between subspecies suggest that several are very close to species status...further gathering and analysis of evidence is needed, however, in order to produce coherent revision of species limits in this complex."
The rainbow starfrontlet is 12.5 to 14 cm (4.9 to 5.5 in) long. Males weigh 6.7 to 8.8 g (0.24 to 0.31 oz) and females 6 to 8.1 g (0.21 to 0.29 oz). Both sexes have a long, straight, black bill, with the female's being somewhat longer than the male's. Both sexes have a white spot behind the eye. Both sexes also have a forked tail, but the male's is more deeply indented than the female's. The subspecies differ significantly... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Rainbow Starfrontlet in Podocarpus National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Podocarpus National Park
Collared Inca
Coeligena torquata
Buff-winged Starfrontlet
Coeligena lutetiae
Bronzy Inca
Coeligena coeligena
Amethyst-throated Sunangel
Heliangelus amethysticollis
Chestnut-breasted Coronet
Boissonneaua matthewsii
Little Sunangel
Heliangelus micraster
Many-spotted Hummingbird
Taphrospilus hypostictus
Violet-fronted Brilliant
Heliodoxa leadbeateri
Green Hermit
Phaethornis guy
Fork-tailed Woodnymph
Thalurania furcata
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Klais guimeti
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Heliodoxa rubinoides
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cajas National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 2 | Huascarán National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 3 | Podocarpus National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Rainbow Starfrontlet in Podocarpus National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Rainbow Starfrontlet sighting in Podocarpus National Park, based on 46 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Rainbow Starfrontlet in Podocarpus National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Rainbow Starfrontlet in Podocarpus National Park in our monthly data.