Coquette with white neck stripe? the Andes, Venezuela (1 Viewer)

iainp

Well-known member

• May 6, 2011

• #1

I may be going too far this time, but can anyone help with this ID?
Rubbish photo I know, but it was the only one I managed to get, and I'm hoping the very clear white neck band will be diagnostic.

It's very small, and my first thought would be Coquette but I don't see one in my book with the stripe. For a while I thought there was also a cheek band but that's a twig!

Taken in lower Andes (2000+m?) in NW Venezuela

EDIT; I just found this image on the card. It was taken 15 minutes later and I assume it's the same bird. Apologies for the ridiculous quality...

Iain

 

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Last edited: May 6, 2011

T

The_Partridge

Well-known member

• May 14, 2011

• #2

Merida Sunangel would be my guess

location and altitude ties in by the sound of it

white breast band, glittering pink throat (2nd photo), tail shape looks pretty good

 

iainp

Well-known member

• May 16, 2011

• #3

That would be great; new for my life list. It's weird because there doesn't seem to be any picture or description of the Merida Sunangel in Hilty's Birds of Venezuela. There's a reference in the index for page 428, but I can't see any mention of it.

Do you know if it goes by a different name or something?

ps. Mary Lou Goodwin's Birding in Venezuela says it can be found relatively easily in Sierra Nevada National Park, which is where I took the photo so it's looking good.

 

Last edited: May 16, 2011

T

The_Partridge

Well-known member

• May 16, 2011

• #4

taxonomy uncertain

Sibley and Monroe recognise it as full species (Helioangelus Spencei)

others lump it in with Amethyst-throated

try to find some other photos of MS and then see if you're happy with the ID

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• May 16, 2011

• #5

Merida Sunangel may be shown in Hilty's book as either Longuemare's Sunangel or Amethyst-throated Sunangel (see taxonomy section)

Niels

 

iainp

Well-known member

• May 16, 2011

• #6

Great! This is the kind of thing that used to drive me mad before I joined BF

It looks the same as this one to me, so it's going on the life list:

http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/longue...sse/lateral-view-female-flight-feeding-flower

Thanks,

Iain