The collared inca is placed in the orderApodiformes, which contains swifts as well as hummingbirds. It is in the familyTrochilidae, that of the hummingbirds, and placed within the subfamilyTrochilinae, the so-called "typical hummingbirds."
Subspecies
Collared incas found in different parts of their range tend to have certain morphological features characteristic of that region, and are considered separate subspecies. From north to south along the Andes they are:
Coeligena torquata conradii – Venezuela. Much greener than typical, cinnamon-buffy throat with rufous-brown spots, smaller chest-patch, buffy belly.
Coeligena torquata torquata – Colombia, east slope of Andes in Ecuador, and part of Peru.
Coeligena torquata fulgidigula – West slope in Ecuador. Greener than typical. Patch on male's forehead shimmering blue. Male's chin metallic turquoise.
Coeligena torquata margaretae – Central Amazonas Region of Peru to the Pasco Region of Peru. Two-part forehead patch in male. Female has white and green-spotted chin.
Coeligena torquata eisenmanni – Within a relatively small area to the northwest of Cusco, Peru. Both genders have some coppery uppertail coverts. Male has black headexcept for crown. Female has rufous chin.
Coeligena torquata omissa – From Cuzco south to the end of the range of the species in Bolivia. Gould's inca, sometimes considered a separate species, it is certainly the most distinctly different of all the subspecies, having in both genders a completely rufous, rather than white, chest-patch.
Gould's inca may be an additional subspecies.
Description
in length, with a rather long, straight, black beak. Under most lighting conditions Coeligena torquata torquata appears black except for a very large and distinctive white chest-patch. However, in ideal lighting other features can be discerned: a shimmering metallic violet forehead patch in males, white thighs, fleshy-dusky feet, shimmering green throat in males, dull and containing some white in females, and some dark green mixed in with the black of the body. The tail of both genders is black except for white on the basal half of the outer four rectrices, and part of the underside. The female is slightly lighter green overall than the male and has a slightly smaller chest-patch Vocalizations are infrequent. Quiet, low-pitched, reedy whistle "tu-tee." Longer series of "pip... pip..." Very quiet spitting sound when foraging.
Distribution and habitat
Humid subtropical and temperate forest regions, including cloud forests on both slopes of the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia between and, usually above in Ecuador. It typically forages below half the height of the canopy, and can most often be found around thickets near the forest edge. It is fairly common throughout most of its range. No reasons for concern have been claimed.
Behavior
Diet
Like other hummingbirds, the collared inca obtains most of its energy from nectar, which it drinks while it in turn pollinates the flower, and feeds on insects and other small insect-like arthropods as a source of protein. It seems to prefer epiphytes. It is a solitary trap-liner, meaning that it forages alone by flying a routine route between several flowers.
Breeding
Two single females of other Coeligena species have been observed caring for two offspring each. The nests were above ground, about tall and wide, with an interior cup about deep and wide, and were composed of seed down and other materials. The eggs were completely white and measured about 1.5x1 cm. The mother visited once or twice every hour, to feed the young for a period of 9–55 seconds.
