Appealing names

Variable Mountain-gem Lampornis castaneoventris Credit: Jean Léveillé (Size: 34.48 kb)

The names of many of the 330 known species of hummingbird allude to the colour of the plumage and often refer to precious stones. Just seeing or hearing their names creates beautiful images in our minds; we can picture the Garnet-throated Hummingbird, Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Amethyst-throated Hummingbird, Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird, White-throated Mountain-gem,

Tufted Coquette Lophornis ornatus Credit: Jean Léveillé (Size: 63.48 kb)

A number of hummingbirds do not have the word "hummingbird" in their name. The names of some of them end with Lancebill, Sabrewing, Mango, Coquette, Emerald, Brilliant, Puffleg, Sunangel, Streamertail, Hillstar and even Woodnymph!

Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna Credit: Louis Carlos (Size: 35.72 kb)

Whoever chose the French names of some of the hummingbird species had women in mind. Female names are included in the: Colibri Anaïs, Dryade de Fanny, Colibri Julie, Émeraude Alice, Colibri Paméla, Érionne Catherine, Méthallure de Thérèse, Colibri Corinne, Colibri d'Angèle, Colibri Élise, Colibri Héloïse, and Ariane de Félicie. In English, only the Anna's Hummingbird has this trait.