White-throated Mountain-gem © flickr.com

Classification much disputed: three essentially parapatric groups with distinct male plumages hybridize to uncertain extent, probably very limited, where their ranges abut. Many previous reports of hybrids may refer to young birds. The groups are: purple-throated, blue-tailed calolaemus (with pectoralis and homogenes); white-throated, grey-tailed cinereicauda; and white-throated, blue-tailed castaneoventris. Racial allocation of purple-throated birds of the Pacific coastal range of southern Costa Rica (calolaemus or homogenes) is uncertain at present. Where white- and purple-throated forms occur on the same slopes, the former tend to occupy higher elevations. Different authors have advocated recognizing one, two (white-throated as opposed to purple-throated subspecies), or three species. Females of all groups are very similar. More study of this complex is needed.

The following 5 subspecies are recognised:

• pectoralis (Salvin, 1891)   -  Extreme southern Nicaragua to north-central Costa Rica. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Purple-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis calolaemus).
• calolaemus (Salvin, 1865)   -  Southern Nicaragua to western Panama. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Purple-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis calolaemus).
• cinereicauda (Lawrence, 1867)   -  Cordillera de Talamanca (southern Costa Rica). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Grey-tailed Mountain-gem (Lampornis cinereicauda).
• homogenes Wetmore, 1967   -  Pacific slope of southern Costa Rica (probably) and western Panama. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Purple-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis calolaemus).
• castaneoventris (Gould, 1851)   -  Extreme western Panama.

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BirdLife International For more information about the White-throated Mountain-gem see... BirdLife International Species Factsheet. Articles about the White-throated Mountain-gem If you would like to read any articles about the White-throated Mountain-gem... Show Articles (0) No Pictures of White-throated Mountain-gem If Birdpedia has no pictures of White-throated Mountain-gem or you would like to see more, then try the following...       From BING (10) No Videos of White-throated Mountain-gem If Birdpedia has no videos of White-throated Mountain-gem or you would like to see more, then try the following..       From BING (0) Where can I observe this species? Select an area (or leave blank) to see locations where this species has been recorded. Area   COSTARICA COCOS   All    Optional: Complete the following if you wish to restrict the reserve to within a given distance of a location. Please enter the Latitude and Longitiude of a given location together with the maximum distance (km) to display a list of reserves within that distance. You must enter a Latitude, a Longitude and a distance greater than 0.   Latitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          N S or   GPS help Longitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          E W or   Find GPS using Google Maps Distance Bearing     N NE E SE S SW W NW Get Sample GPS readings On What Field Trips was this species observed? Select an area (or leave blank), and a date range, to see field trips on which this species has been recorded. Area   COSTARICA COCOS   All    From To     Optional: Complete the following if you wish to restrict the reserve to within a given distance of a location. Please enter the Latitude and Longitiude of a given location together with the maximum distance (km) to display a list of reserves within that distance. You must enter a Latitude, a Longitude and a distance greater than 0.   Latitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          N S or   GPS help Longitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          E W or Distance Bearing     N NE E SE S SW W NW Get Sample GPS readings Latest Sightings for White-throated Mountain-gem Select the Area to restrict the Sightings. Area   COSTARICA COCOS   All