Apodiformes

The 44 Orders

Paleognaths

Galloanserae

Metaves

Pelecanae

Charadriae

Passerae

APODIFORMES

Aegothelidae: Owlet-nightjars

1 genus, 11 species HBW-5

Aegothelidae Tree

The owlet-nightjars seem to be more closely related to the traditional Apodiformes (swifts and hummingbirds) than they are to the nightjars. This is not only supported by molecular evidence, but also by morphology (see Mayr, 2002; 2008). The arrangement of species follows Dumbacher et al. (2003), which also provided evidence that A. salvadorii is not a subspecies of A. albertisi.

Note that Cleere (2010) uses the name Salvadori's Owlet-nightjar to refer to affinis, not salvadorii while the IOC used it to refer to salvadorii, calling affinis the Vogelkop Owlet-nightjar. It might be less confusing to use another name for salvadorii, but I don't know of any in current use.

Hemiprocnidae: Treeswifts

1 genus, 4 species HBW-5

Apodidae: Swifts

18 genera, 102 species HBW-5

Cypseloidinae: Primitive American Swifts

Apodinae

Collocalini: Swiftlets

Chaeturini: Needletails

Apodini: Typical Swifts

Trochilidae: Hummingbirds

112 genera, 339 species HBW-5

Click for Trochilidae tree
Click for Trochilidae genera

Hummingbird taxonomy has been substantially revised based on Altshuler et al. (2004), McGuire et al. (2007, 2009), and Kirchman et al. (2010). Although details differ, the AOU's SACC has also adopted this type of arrangement. The subfamilies represent the natural groupings in McGuire et al. Clicking on the subfamily tree will give you a 2-part genus-level tree of the hummingbirds.

There has been some adjustment of genera due to Kirchman et al. (2009). Both Chalcostigma (1854) and Oreonympha (1869) have been merged with Oxypogon. As Oxypogon dates to 1848, it has priority. Further, Kirchman et al. found that the Bogota Sunangel is not part of Heliangelus. It needs a new genus name and until then will be designated “Heliangelus” in this list.

Most of the changes in generic limits involve the Amazilia/Hylocharis complex (the clade marked A on the tree). McGuire et al. (2007, 2009) found these were entangled, and I've attempted to untangle the situation by combining their analysis with the treatment in HBW-5 (Schuchmann, 1999). Although this involves some adjustment of even Schuchmann's generic limits, I think it does a decent job of making sense of the situation.

This involves reviving the following genera: Agyrtria (Reichenbach 1854, type brevirostris); Basilinna (Boie 1831, type leucotis); Eucephala (Reichenbach 1854, type grayi); Polyerata (Heine 1863, type amabilis); Saucerrotia (Bonaparte 1850, type saucerrottei), and Uranomitra (Reichenbach 1854, type franciae). Moreover, two species don't seem to have an available genus name, and are temporarily designated “Amazilia”.

After these changes, only one species of Hylocharis remains in that genus, with the others moving to Basilinna, Damophila, and Eucephala. Amazilia is divided into Saucerottia, Amazilia, Uranomitra, Agyrtria, Polyerata, and “Amazilia”, with the remaining two species transferred to Leucippus.

There are three non-AOU species in the list: Gray-tailed Mountain-gem, Doubleday's Hummingbird, and Black-billed Streamertail.

Purple-throated Mountain-gem
Purple-throated Mountain-gem
Lampornis calolaemus
Monteverde, Costa Rica, 2003

The proper taxonomic treatment of the Lampornis castaneoventris complex remains unclear. There are three forms: with purple throats and blue tails (calolaemus, pectoralis, and homogenes), with white throats and blue tails (castaneoventris), and with white throats and gray tails (cinereicauda). They could represent subspecies of one species, the Variable Mountain-gem, as in Schuchman (1999 = HBW-5). Or the AOU could be right that they are two species, the Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Lampornis calolaemus, and the White-throated Mountain-gem, Lampornis castaneoventris (including cinereicauda). Alternatively, Stiles and Skutch (1989) and the IOC treat them as three allospecies, with Lampornis cinereicauda taking the name Gray-tailed Mountain-gem.

The DNA analysis revealed that these taxa are very closely related (García-Moreno et al., 2006), and is consistent with lumping all three forms into Variable Mountain-gem. However, although the ranges do meet, there is only limited evidence of hybridization, suggesting that they are best treated as three allospecies. That is the course followed here. In truth, there is insufficient data and a detailed study would be useful.

Doubleday's Hummingbird, Cynanthus doubledayi, was split from Broad-billed Hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris. These two taxa have easily distinguished plumage, and in spite of the fact that their ranges abut one another, seem to be reciprocally monophyletic (García-Deras et al., 2008). In short, they appear to be distinct species, as treated by IOC, HBW-5 (Schuchmann, 1999), and Howell and Webb (1995), but not AOU.

The Streamertail, Trochilus polytmus, was split into Red-billed Streamertail, Trochilus polytmus, and Black-billed Streamertail, Trochilus scitulus. The AOU maintains these as one species, but Gill et al. (1973) provides evidence of a narrow hybrid zone. Accordingly, I've decided to follow the IOC and HBW-5 (Schuchmann, 1999) on this one.

Florisuginae: Topazes

Phaethornithinae: Hermits

Trochilinae: Hummingbirds

Polytmini: Mangoes

Lesbiini: Coquettes

Coeligenini: Brilliants

Patagonini: Giant Hummingbird

Lampornini: Mountain-Gems

Mellisugini: Bees

Trochilini: Emeralds

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