Andean Emerald

The Andean emerald (Uranomitra franciae) is a species of hummingbird. It is the only species placed in the genus Uranomitra. It is found at forest edge, woodland, gardens and scrub in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador and northern Peru. It is generally fairly common. It is green above and white below. Some subspecies have a blue crown. They are generally solitary but will be present with other hummingbirds at flowering trees (known as feeding assemblies). Sexual dimorphism is displayed within the species where the male dons a blue crown and the female a green one. The Andean emerald was formerly placed in the genus Amazilia. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 found that the genus Amazilia was polyphyletic. In the revised classification to create monophyletic genera, the Andean emerald was moved to the resurrected genus Uranomitra that had been introduced in 1854 by Ludwig Reichenbach.