Abstract
Based upon evidence from morphology, behavior, and ecology, I propose that the taxonomy of the southern Selasphorus hummingbirds be set forth as follows:
Selasphorus flammula Salvin: Volcano Hummingbird
S. f. flammula Salvin, 1864 (Volcán Irazú, Volcán Turrialba, Costa Rica)
S. f. torridus Salvin, 1870 (Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica-Panama)
S. f. simoni Carriker, 1910 (Volcán Poás, Volcán Barba, Costa Rica)
Selasphorus scintilla Gould, 1850: Scintillant Hummingbird (Cordillera de Tilarán, Costa Rica south and east to Volcán Chiriquí, Panama, at lower elevations than populations of the preceding species).
Selasphorus ardens Salvin, 1870: Glow-throated Hummingbird (Serranía de Tabasará, Panama).
S. scintilla and S. ardens may comprise a superspecies. S. "underwoodii" is a hybrid between S. scintilla and S. f. flammula.
The breeding distributions of flammula, simoni, and torridus are entirely allopatric, but the birds may occur together in the nonbreeding season. In particular, a pronounced postbreeding movement may carry many torridus into the breeding areas of flammula and even simoni. A possible evolutionary history of these forms is proposed in relation to post-Pleistocene climatic changes, ecological requirements, and probable populations sizes.
Cultural and climatic changes shape the evolutionary history of the Uralic languages
