282 BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA — PART 2 



of eastern Colombia and western Venezuela, differing only in longer 

 bill. The birds from the mountains of Darien agree in bill length 

 with rectirostris, but, as stated, have slightly shorter wings. 



PHAEOCHROA CUVIERII (De Lattre and Bourcier) : Cuvier's 

 Hummingbird, Colibri de Cuvier 



Large ; with foreneck and upper breast dull green, lower breast 

 and abdomen washed lightly with pale cinnamon-buff. 



Description. — Length 120-130 mm. Shaft of outer primary 

 thickened toward the base in adult males. Adult (sexes alike), above 

 dark green to metallic bronze-green, crown usually darker than the 

 back ; side of head obscurely dusky, with a small brownish white 

 spot on the posterior border of the eye; wings dusky black, with a 

 faint purplish gloss ; central tail feathers metallic green to bluish 

 green ; three outer pairs with more or less of a blackish bar at end 

 and white tip ; foreneck, upper breast, and sides dull green to dull 

 bronze-green, the feathers edged lightly with grayish buff; center of 

 lower breast and most of abdomen pale brownish buff; tufts on each 

 side of rump and on femoral area pure white ; under tail coverts 

 dull bronze-green, edged with white. 



These hummingbirds range in more open lands, sometimes in the 

 borders of gallery forest, at the inland border of mangroves, or about 

 lines of trees along the fence rows in pastures. With their dull colors 

 often they are inconspicuous, especially as they seem quieter than 

 many of the family. In the main they feed at flowers, the large blooms 

 of the emajagua (Hibiscus tiliaceus), common back of beaches and on 

 the shores of larger rivers. Other flowering trees in the swamps are 

 visited regularly. At these they may range in the tops of smaller 

 trees, though it is common to find them near the ground. The feet 

 are large, and the legs are strongly muscular. They sometimes perch 

 to probe large flowers. 



In the race P. c. maculkauda Griscom of Costa Rica, closely allied 

 to the forms found in Panama, Skutch (Condor, 1964, pp. 186-198) 

 records that nesting comes during the rainy season. He has found 

 3 or 4 males resting on open perches at elevations 6 to 12 meters, 

 spaced 30 to 35 meters apart. Here they sing a chirping, trilling 

 song of a variable number of syllables. Nests, built by the females, 

 are substantial rounded cups, made of soft materials mixed with fine 

 fibers, decorated externally with mosses, lichens, and liverworts, 

 supported by twigs on an inclined branch, or placed on a larger one 

 that is horizontal. The complete set is of 2 white eggs. 



Three of the four races now recognized are found in Panama. 



