- Topaza pella
Identification
20cm
- Iridescent red underparts
- Golden yellow throat patch
- Tail feathers cross over
- Short, curved bill
Distribution
South America: found in eastern Venezuela, the Guianas, and central and eastern Amazonian Brazil.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized[1]
- T. p. pella:
- T. p. smaragdulus
- French Guiana and eastern Brazil (Amapá, and central Pará, from the east bank of the Tapajós River to the Tocantins River)
- T. p. microrhyncha:
- Eastern Amazonian Brazil (Marajó, and northeastern Pará east of the Tocantins River)
Fiery Topaz has in the past been included in this species.
Habitat
Gallery forests and other humid forest; often near streams.
Behaviour
Always high in the forest, may even be above the canopy catching insects!
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, M. Smith, and C. L. Wood. 2024. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2024. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Restall et al. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300124156
- Ber van Perlo. 2009. A field guide to the Birds of Brazil. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, USA. ISBN 978-0-19-530155-7
- fohn.net
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Crimson Topaz. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 16 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Crimson_Topaz
