Birds of Ecuador

    APODIFORMES: Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)  
Genus: Metallura (4 species, 9 worldwide)

Genus Metallura, Metaltails, are small hummingbirds with short straight bills. Tail colors vary widely between species and subspecies, making identification sometimes tricky.


Violet-throated Metaltail
Violet-throated Metaltail (Metallura baroni) Male Endangered ENDEMIC
Cajas National Park, Ecuador  
   
Photograph by Peter Hawrylyshyn   © All Rights Reserved.

Violet-throated Metaltail
Violet-throated Metaltail (Metallura baroni) Female Endangered ENDEMIC
Cajas National Park, Ecuador  
   
Photograph by Peter Hawrylyshyn   © All Rights Reserved.


Neblina Metaltail
Neblina Metaltail (Metallura odomae) Male
Peru  
   
Photograph by Peter Hawrylyshyn   © All Rights Reserved.

Neblina Metaltail
Neblina Metaltail (Metallura odomae) Female
Peru  
   
Photograph by Peter Hawrylyshyn   © All Rights Reserved.


Tyrian Metaltail
Tyrian Metaltail (Metallura tyrianthina quitensis) Male
Guango Lodge, Ecuador
  Note red back of tail distinctive for this species.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Tyrian Metaltail
Tyrian Metaltail (Metallura tyrianthina tyrianthina) Female
Manizales, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A small hummingbird with a short bill. In Ecuador the Tyrian Metaltail has a coppery-red tail.
Alt. photo


Viridian Metaltail
Viridian Metaltail (Metallura williami atrigularis) Male
Gualaceo, Azuay Province, Ecuador
  Note black throat on atrigularis subspecies, which is not present in other races. Also note green inside of tail of both Ecuadorian subspecies.
   
Photograph by Peter Hawrylyshyn   © All Rights Reserved.

Viridian Metaltail
Viridian Metaltail (Metallura williami atrigularis) Male
Alshi, Morona-Santiago Province, Ecuador
  Compare to the red back of tail of the Tyrian Metaltail.
   
Photograph by Peter Hawrylyshyn   © All Rights Reserved.

Viridian Metaltail
Viridian Metaltail (Metallura williami williami) Female
Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A small hummingbird generally found at higher altitudes than the Tyrian Metaltail (usually at over 3000m). Males of subspecies williami in central Colombia have a blue on inside of tail. Others races have green on inside of tail.
Back of tail.


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