Apodiformes

The 45 Orders

Paleognaths

Galloanserae

Metaves

Pelecanae

Charadriae

Passerae

APODIFORMES Peters, 1940 (1867)

This one has a more complicated history. Priority would seem to indicate that Trochiliformes should be used as it dates back to Wagler, 1830 (as the suborder Trochili). However, modern usage is Apodiformes. For a long time, names based on Cypselus were used, but this is a junior subjective synonym of Apus, hence Apodiformes. For families, the updated name would retain the same priority as the original, which dates back to Huxley as Cypselomorphae. That's what the (1867) is about. Still, 1830 trumps 1867, and I don't see a good reason to not use Trochiliformes.

Aegothelidae: Owlet-nightjars Bonaparte, 1853

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 Oberholser, 1906 (1852)

1 genus, 4 species HBW-5

Apodidae: Swifts Olphe-Galliard, 1887 (1836)

19 genera, 105 species HBW-5

The subfamilies and tribes follow HBW-5. Although they focus on the swiftlets, the available molecular studies suggest that some reorganization will be needed (see Thomassen et al., 2003, 2005; Price et al., 2004).

Based on Päckert et al. (2012), Alpine Swift, Tachymarptis melba and Mottled Swift, Tachymarptis aequatorialis, have been returned to Tachymarptis (from Apus). Further, Apus has been rearranged based on their study.

Following Leader (2011), the Fork-tailed Swift, Apus pacificus, has been split into 4 species: Blyth's Swift, Apus leuconyx, Salim Ali's Swift, Apus salimalii, Pacific Swift, Apus pacificus, and Cook's Swift, Apus cooki.

Cypseloidinae: Primitive American Swifts Brooke, 1970

Apodinae Olphe-Galliard, 1887 (1836)

Collocalini: Swiftlets Bonaparte, 1853 (1852)

Chaeturini: Needletails Bonaparte, 1857

Apodini: Typical Swifts Olphe-Galliard, 1887 (1836)

Trochilidae: Hummingbirds Vigors, 1825

111 genera, 340 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), Uranomitra (Reichenbach 1854, type franciae), and Chionomesa (Simon 1921, type lactea).

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 Chionomesa, with the remaining two species transferred to Leucippus.

There are four non-AOU species in the list: Gray-tailed Mountain-gem, Doubleday's Hummingbird, Curve-winged Sabrewing, 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.

García-Moreno et al. (2006) also found some evidence that White-bellied Mountain-gem, Lampornis hemileucus, does not belong with the other Lampornis but is closer to Panterpe. However, McGuire et al. (2009), which used a superset of the genes studied by García-Moreno et al., found the White-bellied Mountain-gem was closer to the other Lampornis (with low support). For the present, it seems most reasonable to leave in Lampornis.

Following the AOU supplement 53 and McGuire et al., Stellula (Calliope Hummingbird) has been merged into Selasphorus. Using McGuire et al. and HBW-5, I've rearranged Selasphorus to accomodate this.

Based on Gonzalez et al. (2011) and Navarro-Sig\"uenza, and Peterson (2004), the Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Campylopterus curvipennis, has been split into Curve-winged Sabrewing, Campylopterus curvipennis (sister to Long-tailed Sabrewing, Campylopterus excellens) and Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Campylopterus pampa, of the Yucatan.

The Violet-crowned Woodnymph, Thalurania colombica, and Green-crowned Woodnymph, Thalurania fannyi, have been merged into Crowned Woodnymph, Thalurania colombica. See SACC proposal #558. Note that AOU's NACC has not acted on this yet.

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 Bonaparte, 1853

Phaethornithinae: Hermits Jardine, 1833

Trochilinae: Hummingbirds Vigors, 1825

Polytmini: Mangoes Reichenbach, 1849

Lesbiini: Coquettes Reichenbach, 1853

Coeligenini: Brilliants Eudes-Deslongchamps, 1881 (1853)

Patagonini: Giant Hummingbird Bonaparte, 1853

Lampornini: Mountain-Gems Jardine, 1833

Mellisugini: Bees G.R. Gray, 1848

Trochilini: Emeralds Vigors, 1825

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