Thorntail

Discosura
File:Green Thorntail (Discosura conversii).jpg
Green Thorntail, Discosura conversii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Trochilidae
Genus:	Discosura Bonaparte, 1850
species
see text

Discosura is a genus of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. The thorntails are sometimes placed in the genus Popelairia (Reichenbach, 1854), leaving Discosura for the Racket-tailed Coquette. On the contrary, some have argued for merging this genus into Lophornis, which they overall resemble, except for the highly modified tail-feathers of the males.

Species

• Wire-crested Thorntail, Discosura popelairii
• Black-bellied Thorntail, Discosura langsdorffi
• Coppery Thorntail/Letitia's Thorntail, Discosura letitiae
• Green Thorntail, Discosura conversii
• Racket-tailed Coquette, Discosura longicaudus

References

• Remsen, J.V. Jr.; Cadena, C.D.; Jaramillo, A.; Nores, M.; Pacheco, J.F.; Robbins, M.B., Schulenberg, T.S.; Stiles, F.G.; Stotz, D.F. & Zimmer K.J. (2008): A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithologists' Union. Accessed 2008-07-20.

This article is part of Project Bird Genera, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each genus, including made-up genera.