Golden-bellied Starfrontlet (Coeligena bonapartei) [XC148348]
by Mateo Hernandez (Colecci\u00f3n de Sonidos Ambientales - Instituto Humboldt) from Cundinamarca, Subachoque, Finca El Cerro, Colombia (song)
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet (Coeligena bonapartei) [XC12695]
by Doug Knapp from Soat\u00e1, Alto Onzaga, Santander, Colombia (call)
Subspecies
Probably forms superspecies with Golden Starfrontlet (Coeligena eos), Blue-throated Starfrontlet (Coeligena helianthea), Buff-winged Starfrontlet (Coeligena lutetiae) and Bolivian Starfrontlet (Coeligena violifer). Traditionally considered to include Golden Starfrontlet (Coeligena eos) as subspecies, but probably best considered separate species on the basis of plumage characters. Taxon orina, known from single specimen (probably an immature male), is often considered a separate species. However, it may be best considered a subspecies of Golden-bellied Starfrontlet (Coeligena bonapartei), or it may even represent some melanistic plumage.
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
consita Wetmore & Phelps Jr, 1952 - Sierra de Perijá, along Colombia-Venezuela border. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Perija Starfrontlet (Coeligena consita).
bonapartei (Boissonneau, 1840) - Eastern Andes of Colombia (Boyacá south to Bogotá).
orina Wetmore, 1953 - Western Andes of Colombia (Antioquia). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Glittering Starfrontlet (Coeligena orina).
eos (Gould, 1848) - Andes of western Venezuela (Trujillo, Barinas, Mérida and Táchira). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Golden Starfrontlet (Coeligena eos).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet