Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) [XC237919]
by Scott Olmstead from Azuay: Ca\u00f1ayacu 7 km NNE Chaucha, Ecuador (call, chase calls)
Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) [XC432100]
by Manuel Roncal- Rabanal from Reserva Yanacocha, Pichincha, Ecuador (call)
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with White-tufted Sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii) and possibly with Purple-backed Sunbeam (Aglaeactis aliciae). Although the morphological variation in the genus might suggest past geneflow between present species and Purple-backed Sunbeam (Aglaeactis aliciae), they are nowadays reproductively isolated in the zone of overlap. Occasionally considered to include Purple-backed Sunbeam (Aglaeactis aliciae) as a subspecies. Otherwise, up to six subspecies of present species have been accepted at various times, with aequatorialis (northern and central Ecuador), parvulus (southern Ecuador, northern Peru), cajabambae and ruficauda (both of north-central Peru) replacing each other southwards through Ecuador and Peru, but morphometric and plumage characters strongly indicate clinal variation, and all four now subsumed into nominate.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
cupripennis (Bourcier, 1843) - All three Andean ranges of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru (south to Huánuco and Lima).
caumatonota Gould, 1848 - Central and south-central Peru (Junín, Apurímac, Cuzco).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet