Red-billed Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus) [XC783176]
by Ross Gallardy from Padhouse, Mulleth Hall, Portland Parish, Jamaica (tail whirring)
Red-billed Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus) [XC713792]
by id from Green Castle Estate House, Robins Bay, Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica (call, flight call)
Subspecies
Trochilus polytmus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into parapatric Red-billed Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus) and Black-billed Streamertail (Trochilus scitulus) following Schuchmann (1999), contra AOU (1998) supported by morphological and behavioural differences.
Genus closely related to Chlorostilbon. Forms a superspecies with Black-billed Streamertail (Trochilus scitulus), with which formerly considered conspecific, but differs in display and voice. Occasional hybridization in western John Crow Mts.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
polytmus Linnaeus, 1758 - Jamaica.
scitulus (Brewster & Bangs, 1901) - Jamaica. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Black-billed Streamertail (Trochilus scitulus).