Brace's Emerald

Overview

Brace's Emerald (Riccordia bracei) is a species of Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) in the order Swifts and Hummingbirds.

Scientific Classification

Genus: Riccordia; binomial: Riccordia bracei; authority: (Lawrence, 1877).

Distribution

Breeding range: the Nearctic.

Conservation Status

This taxon is listed as Extinct in the IOC World Bird List.

Remarks

The extinct Gould's Emerald Riccordia elegans, somestimes treated as a subspecies of R. bracei, is known solely from the unique type specimen of unknown geographic origin. It is regarded as a "taxon of uncertain status" by WGAC and is classified as a "doubtful taxon" by the AOS in NACC 2022-C-3. As such, it is tentatively removed from this listing until, and if, genetic analysis and/or stable isotope analysis sheds further light on its status. For a discussion strongly supporting its validity see Weller (1999b).