Quick Facts Conservation status, Scientific classification ...

Giant hummingbird
Patagona gigas in Chile
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Clade:	Strisores
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Trochilidae
Genus:	Patagona G.R. Gray, 1840
Species:	P. gigas
Binomial name
Patagona gigas (Vieillot, 1824)

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The giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) is the only member of the genus Patagona and the largest member of the hummingbird family, weighing 18–24 g (0.63–0.85 oz) and having a wingspan of approximately 21.5 cm (8.5 in) and length of 23 cm (9.1 in).^[3] This is approximately the same length as a European starling or a northern cardinal, though the giant hummingbird is considerably lighter because it has a slender build and long bill, making the body a smaller proportion of the total length. This weight is almost twice that of the next heaviest hummingbird species^[4] and ten times that of the smallest, the bee hummingbird.^[5]

The giant hummingbird was described and illustrated in 1824 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot based on a specimen that Vieillot mistakenly believed had been collected in Brazil.^[6] The type locality was designated as Valparaíso in Chile by Carl Eduard Hellmayr in 1945.^[7][8] The giant hummingbird is now the only species placed in the genus Patagona that was introduced by George Robert Gray in 1840.^[9][10]

Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that the giant hummingbird has no close relatives and is sister to the hummingbird subfamily Trochilinae, a large clade containing the tribes Lampornithini (mountain gems), Mellisugini (bees) and Trochilini (emeralds).^[11]

Two subspecies are recognised:^[10]

• P. g. peruviana Boucard, 1893 – southwest Colombia to north Chile and northwest Argentina
• P. g. gigas (Vieillot, 1824) – central, south Chile and west-central Argentina

These subspecies are thought to have emerged as a result of partial geographical separation of populations by volcanic activity in the Andes predating the Miocene; however, there remain areas of contact between the species, hence the lack of full speciation.^[12] The proposed phylogenetic system for hummingbirds suggested by McGuire et al. (2009)^[13] accommodates the possible elevation of these subspecies to species rank.

The giant hummingbird can be identified by its large size and characteristics such as the presence of an eye-ring, straight bill longer than the head, dull colouration, very long wings (approaching the tail tip when stowed), long and moderately forked tail,^[14] tarsi feathered to the toes and large, sturdy feet. There is no difference between the sexes.^[12][15] Juveniles have small corrugations on the lateral beak culmen.^[16]

The subspecies are visually distinguishable. P. g. peruviana is yellowish brown overall and has white on the chin and throat, where P. g. gigas is more olive green to brown and lacks white on the chin and throat.^[12]

The giant hummingbird occasionally glides in flight, a behavior very rare among hummingbirds. Its elongated wings allow more efficient glides than do those of other hummingbirds.^[17] The giant hummingbird's voice is a distinctive loud, sharp and whistling "chip".^[18]

The giant hummingbird is widely distributed throughout the length of the Andes on both the east and west sides.^[12] It typically inhabits the higher altitude scrubland and forests that line the slopes of the Andes during the summer and then retreats to similar, lower altitude habitats in winter months.^[15][19] The species persists through a large altitude range, with specimens retrieved from sea level up to 4600 m.^[12] They have shown to be fairly resilient to urbanisation and agricultural activities; however, the removal of vegetation limits their distribution in dense city areas and industrial zones.^[20] The giant hummingbird migrates in summer to the temperate areas of South America, reaching as low as 44° S. Correspondingly, it migrates north to more tropical climates in winter (March–August), though not usually venturing higher than 28° S.^[12][18]

P. g. peruviana occurs from Ecuador to the southeastern mountains of Peru and P. g. gigas from northern Bolivia and Chile to Argentina. Contact between subspecies is most likely to occur around the eastern slopes of the north Peruvian Andes.^[12]

Hummingbirds are extremely agile and acrobatic flyers, regularly partaking in sustained hovering flight, often used not only to feed on the wing but to protect their territory^[21] and court mates.^[5] The giant hummingbird is typical in that it will brazenly defend its precious energy-rich flower territory from other species and other giant hummingbirds. These birds are typically seen alone, in pairs or small family groups.^[18]

The giant hummingbird holds significant value for some of the aboriginal inhabitants of the Andes. The people of Chiloé Island believe that if a woman captures a hummingbird then they will gain great fertility from it.^[18] This species is a likely inspiration to the people of the Nazca culture who created the Nazca hummingbird geoglyph.^[18]

The range of the giant hummingbird is sizable, estimated at 1,200,000 km², with total numbers of about 10,000 adults. The species is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being of Least Concern.^[1]