Heliodoxa Otero

Peru and Bolivia

How manifestly is the law of representation exhibited in certain species of Humming-Birds inhabiting similar latitudes north and south of the equator!

The Heliodoxa Otero and H. Leadbeateri are two species which will serve well to illustrate this theory—the one inhabiting Bolivia, on the south, the other Columbia, on the north. I am not a little surprised that some ornithologists have considered these two birds as one and the same species; an Eagle and a Buzzard can scarcely offer greater differences in size than the Otero and Leadbeateri: the former, moreover, differs in having the blue on the crown extended backwards towards the occiput, and the green colouring of the breast finer, if possible, and more glittering; in other respects a great similarity exists in the two species.

The discovery and characterization of this fine bird are due to Dr. von Tschudi, the celebrated traveller, whose work entitled ‘Fauna Peruana’ will form a lasting memorial of his ability and zeal in the cause of science. ‘The specimens in my own collection were principally procured by Mr. Bridges, during his short residence near La Paz, but I have one example which I obtained in exchange from the Museum at Copenhagen. All these specimens closely resemble each other, and are of much larger size than the H. Leadbeateri. The two species appear never to encroach upon each other’s country. I have not yet seen either species from Ecuador.

How must every lover of natural history, particularly the trochilidist, yearn to acquire some information respecting the mode of life, flight, food, &c., of the various forms of Humming-Birds, in all which respects they will doubtless be found to differ as much as these little ornithological gems do in their colouring and structure!

The entire crown of the male is of a brilliant metallic blue; the throat and breast luminous green; occiput and nape reddish bronze, appearing black when viewed in front; back, upper and under wing-coverts, upper tail-coverts, abdomen and flanks bronzy green; wings purplish brown; upper tail-coverts and two central tail-feathers pure bronze, the remaining tail-feathers black, glossed with bronze; behind the eye a small patch of white; bill black; feet dark brown.

The female has the upper surface bronzy green, marked with deeper bronze on the nape; wings purplish brown; four centre tail-feathers bronze, the remainder bluish black, glossed with bronze on the outer webs and tipped with greyish white; under surface white, spangled with green; vent pale buff.

The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size. The plant is the Echites Franciscea.

References

• Trochilus Otero, Tschudi, Consp. Av., No. 212.—Ib. Faun. Peruana, p. 39, tab. xxui. fig. 2.
• Leadbeatera otero, Reichenb. Auf. der Col., p. 7—Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 251.