Patagona Gigas Bird

English Name:  Giant Hummingbird
Latin Name:  Patagona gigas
Protonym:  Trochilus gigas Gal.Ois. 1 p.296 pl.180
Taxonomy:  Caprimulgiformes / Trochilidae / Patagona
Taxonomy Code:  giahum1
Type Locality:  Brazil, error = Chile, restricted to Valparaiso by Hellmayr, antea, p. 230.
Author:  Vieillot
Publish Year:  1824
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

PATAGONA
(Trochilidae; Ϯ Giant Hummingbird P. gigas) Based on “Oiseau-mouche Patagon” or “Patagon” of Lesson 1829: “Le patagon habite les forêts de l’intérieur du Chili, et s’avance dans le pays des Araucanos, et jusque dans les pampas sauvages des Puelches, au sud du Vieux-Chili, et au pied des Andes”; "PATAGONA, n.  Patagones, Less.   P. Gigas, (Vieill.) n.   O. tristis, Less. Ois. Mouch., pl. 3." (G. Gray 1840).
Synon. Hypermetra.

gigas
L. gigas, gigantis  giant  < Gr. γιγας gigas, γιγαντος gigantos  giant.
● ex Ardea scolopacea J. Gmelin, 1789, and “Caráu” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 366 (syn. Aramus guarauna).
● ex “Coucal Géant” of Levaillant 1807, pl. 223 (syn. Centropus phasianinus).
● ex “Touraco Géant” of Levaillant 1813-1818, pl. 19 (syn. Corythaeola cristata).
● ex “Coucou verdâtre de Madagascar” of de Buffon 1770-1785, and “Great Madagascar Cuckow” of Latham 1781 (Coua).
● ex “Plus grand Martin-pêcheur” of de Buffon 1770-1785, and “Great Brown Kingsfisher” of Latham 1782 (syn. Dacelo novaeguineae).

SUBSPECIES

Giant Hummingbird (peruviana)
Latin Name: Patagona gigas peruviana
peruana / peruanum / peruanus / peruvia / peruviana / peruvianus / peruviensis
Peru. Said to be named after Biru, a local Inca encountered by the conquistadores (although the name is also accredited to a Panamanian cazique). Until the early 18^th century the Viceroyalty of Peru included all Spanish possessions in South America.
● ex “Geai du Pérou” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 625, and de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Peruvian Jay” of Latham 1781 (syn. Cyanocorax yncas).
● ex “Coq de Roche du Pérou” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 745, and de Buffon 1770-1783 (Rupicola).
● Erroneous TL. Peru (= Brazil) (Tangara).
● Erroneous TL. Peru (= Tahiti) (Vini).

Giant Hummingbird (gigas)
Latin Name: Patagona gigas gigas
gigas
L. gigas, gigantis  giant  < Gr. γιγας gigas, γιγαντος gigantos  giant.
● ex Ardea scolopacea J. Gmelin, 1789, and “Caráu” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 366 (syn. Aramus guarauna).
● ex “Coucal Géant” of Levaillant 1807, pl. 223 (syn. Centropus phasianinus).
● ex “Touraco Géant” of Levaillant 1813-1818, pl. 19 (syn. Corythaeola cristata).
● ex “Coucou verdâtre de Madagascar” of de Buffon 1770-1785, and “Great Madagascar Cuckow” of Latham 1781 (Coua).
● ex “Plus grand Martin-pêcheur” of de Buffon 1770-1785, and “Great Brown Kingsfisher” of Latham 1782 (syn. Dacelo novaeguineae).