This male has got a fair amount of green in the head suggesting the soederstroemi subspecies which should be restricted to the slopes of volcan Quilotoa, which, however, is only about 15 kms southwest of this site.
Thanks for your comments Carlos. Sorry I couldn't get a better images. So the soederstoemi is really range-restricted to Quilotao then.
Guest
11-Aug-2010 16:23
Good photo Roger!, I'm currently studying this hummingbird species, and I think I agree with Juan. I have found quite similar individuals in populations in Antisana and other places. Maybe they are subadults or aberrant individuals. And yes, in Chapman's book on the birds of Ecuador it is written that soederstromi shows "five or six of the lower throat feathers distinctly but narrowly margined with green".
Greetings,
Carlos Antonio Rodríguez
Hola Juan, I was actually considering an immature male nominate race, but being so close to where soederstoemi is supposed to occur and not knowing exactly what that one looks like. Yes, the green chin doesn't fit but the other green feathers mixed in with the blue was a bit puzzling. Thanks for your comment.
Juan Freile
24-Jul-2010 16:02
Hola Roger, actually, soederstromi should show a bit of green in the chin. Although, the bird in your photo look quite puzzling, it looks as a juv. male to my eyes, noting colour of upperparts and a narrow brownish edge to glittering feathers.
Great work! Saludos,
Juan Freile