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. == Taxonomy and systematics == 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." == Description == 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…
Cajas National Park
Cuenca, Ecuador
+100 birds+10 mammals
Where granite peaks pierce the Andean cloud forest between 3,150 and 4,450 meters, more than 270 glacial lakes catch the […]
VIEW NATIONAL PARKHuascarán National Park
Independencia, Peru
+108 birds+9 mammals
Where granite peaks thrust above 6,000 metres and perpetual snowfields feed glacial torrents, the Andes reveal their most dramatic architecture. […]
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