Topaz (hummingbird)

This article is about hummingbirds from the genus Topaza. For the ruby topaz, see Ruby-topaz hummingbird.

Topaz
Crimson topaz (Topaza pella)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Clade:	Strisores
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Trochilidae
Subfamily:	Florisuginae
Genus:	Topaza G.R. Gray, 1840
Species
2, see text

The topazes are two species of hummingbirds in the genus Topaza. They are found in humid forests in the Amazon Basin. Males are by far the largest hummingbirds in their range – the giant hummingbird of the Andes is the only larger species in the family. Males have a total length of about 22 cm (8+3⁄4 in), although this includes their elongated rectrices. They are very colourful, being mainly strongly iridescent golden and crimson with a black hood and a green throat. Females lack the elongated rectrices and have a mainly green plumage.

The genus Topaza contains two separate species, the Crimson topaz and the Fiery topaz. It has been suggested that the fiery topaz should be considered a subspecies of the crimson topaz, but today all major authorities consider them as separate species.

Image	Name	Common name	Distribution
	Topaza pella Linnaeus, 1758	Crimson topaz	Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
	Topaza pyra Gould, 1846	Fiery topaz	Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

References

• Restall, R., C. Rodner, & M. Lentino (2006). Birds of Northern South America. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-7243-9 (vol. 1), ISBN 0-7136-7242-0 (vol. 2).