Collared inca
The collared inca is a species of hummingbird found in humid Andean forests from western Venezuela through Colombia and Ecuador to Peru. It is very distinctive in having a white chest-patch and white on the tail. Like other hummingbirds it takes energy from flower nectar, while the plant benefits from the symbiotic relationship by being pollinated. Its protein source is small arthropods such as insects. It is normally solitary and can be found at varying heights above the ground, often in the open.
Taxonomy
The collared inca is a member of subfamily Lesbiinae, the so-called "typical hummingbirds", of family Trochilidae. The family is placed by some taxonomic systems in the order Apodiformes, which contains swifts as well as hummingbirds. Others assign hummingbirds and swifts to order Caprimulgiformes.Subspecies
Collared incas found in different parts of their range tend to have certain morphological features characteristic of that region, and are considered separate subspecies. The species' taxonomy is unsettled.The International Ornithological Committee and the Clements taxonomy recognize these five subspecies:C. t. torquata – Colombia, east slope of Andes in Ecuador, and part of Peru.C. t. fulgidigula – West slope in Ecuador. Greener than typical. Patch on male's forehead shimmering blue. Male's chin metallic turquoise.C. t. margaretae Zimmer, J.T., 1948 – Central Amazonas Region of Peru to the Pasco Region of Peru. Two-part forehead patch in male. Female has white and green-spotted chin.C. t. insectivora – Pasco Region to the Ayacucho Region of Peru.C. t. eisenmanni Weske, 1985 – Within a relatively small area to the northwest of Cusco, Peru. Both sexes have some coppery uppertail coverts. Male has black head except for crown. Female has rufous chin.
The South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society includes three additional subspecies: C. t. conradii, C. t. omissa, and C. t. inca. The IOC and Clements treat conradii as the species green inca and the other two as Gould's inca. BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World recognizes the green inca and Gould's inca, and in addition separates C. t. eisenmanni as the species Vilcabamba inca. The SACC is seeking proposals for recognizing these taxa as species.
Description
in length, with a rather long, straight, black beak. Under most lighting conditions Coeligena torquata torquata appears black except for a very large and distinctive white chest-patch. However, in ideal lighting other features can be discerned: a shimmering metallic violet forehead patch in males, white thighs, fleshy-dusky feet, shimmering green throat in males, dull and containing some white in females, and some dark green mixed in with the black of the body. The tail of both sexes is black except for white on the basal half of the outer four rectrices, and part of the underside. The female is slightly lighter green overall than the male and has a slightly smaller chest-patchVocalizations are infrequent. Quiet, low-pitched, reedy whistle "tu-tee." Longer series of "pip... pip..." Very quiet spitting sound when foraging.
Distribution and habitat
Humid subtropical and temperate forest regions, including cloud forests on both slopes of the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia between and, usually above in Ecuador. It typically forages below half the height of the canopy, and can most often be found around thickets near the forest edge.It is fairly common throughout most of its range. No reasons for concern have been claimed.