DOI: 10.5061/dryad.tht76hf9j
title: Taxonomy, nomenclature, and identification of the giant hummingbirds (Patagona spp.) (Aves: Trochilidae)

description: Giant hummingbirds (Patagona spp.) are extraordinarily large hummingbirds
 whose taxonomy has been muddled for two centuries. Patagona systematics
 were recently redefined in a study of migration, physiology, and genomics,
 revealing two species: the Northern Giant Hummingbird and Southern Giant
 Hummingbird. Here, we re-evaluate taxonomy and nomenclature of the genus
 in light of its newly clarified biology and species limits,
 analyzing data from 608 specimens and wild-caught individuals spanning
 1864–2023. The forms gigas and peruviana were both described based on
 multiple syntypes. The possible syntypes for Patagona gigas are dubious,
 so we designate a neotype for this taxon. The genetic identity of the
 peruviana lectotype remains untested, but its plumage appears to match the
 northern species. We critically considered the identity and usage
 of gigas and peruviana, respectively, and examined identification
 challenges that fostered taxonomic uncertainty. We endorse the name
 Patagona gigas for the Southern Giant Hummingbird and Patagona peruviana
 for the Northern Giant Hummingbird. We found that ~33% of specimens (74 of
 226) in major museum collections that are labeled peruviana are actually
 misidentified gigas and we include this full list to correct the
 historical record. Finally, to facilitate identification and future study
 of these two cryptic species, we provide comprehensive information on
 plumage, measurements, and seasonal ranges.
description: # Taxonomy, nomenclature, and identification of the giant hummingbirds
 (Patagona spp.) (Aves: Trochilidae) This data deposit contains raw data
 used in a historical examination of taxonomy and nomenclature of the giant
 hummingbirds (*Patagona spp.*) in South America. Published data from
 Williamson et al. 2024, PNAS
 ([https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2313599121](https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2313599121)) were analyzed together with new data from vouchered specimens and wild-caught birds in Peru. This work would not have been possible without the support of the following museum collections, to whom we are very grateful: American Museum of Natural History, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad (CORBIDI), Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates, Field Museum of Natural History, Louisiana State University of Museum of Natural Science, Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Museum of Southwestern Biology, Natural History Museum at Tring, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Data are linked to vouchered specimens. Specimen records are accessible in the Artcos database ([https://www.arctosdb.org](https://www.arctosdb.org)) or in specific collections databases, as appropriate. # Datasets **File name:** WilliamsonEtAl2025_ZJLS_Patagona_taxonomy_morpho_git.csv **Description**: Morphological data used in Williamson et al. 2025, ZJLS, including specimen identifiers, collection localities, and measurements of wing, bill, and tail. **File name:** WilliamsonEtAl2025_ZJLS_Hellmayr1932_data.csv **Description**: Digitized morphological data published in Hellmayr 1932, Birds of Chile. **File name:** WilliamsonEtAl2025_ZJLS_Patagona_specimen_identification.csv **Description**: Specimen data, identifiers, and subspecies IDs listed on specimen tags and in databases. **File name:** WilliamsonEtAl2025_TableS5_SouthernsMisidentifiedAsPeruviana.csv **Description**: Table S5 (also in paper supplement and reproducible from R code on GitHub) with a list of the 74 Southern Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas) specimens that are currently listed as "peruviana" (i.e., that are misidentified in museum collections as Northern Giant Hummingbirds. # Metadata **File name:** WilliamsonEtAl2025_ZJLS_Patagona_taxonomy_morpho_git_METADATA.csv **Description:** The metadata .csv file describes each column and type of data included in the data file, "WilliamsonEtAl2025_ZJLS_Patagona_taxonomy_morpho_git.csv". **File name:** WilliamsonEtAl2025_ZJLS_Hellmayr1932_data_METADATA.csv **Description:** The metadata .csv file describes each column and type of data included in the data file, "WilliamsonEtAl2025_ZJLS_Hellmayr1932_data.csv". **File name:** WilliamsonEtAl2025_ZJLS_Patagona_specimen_identification_METADATA.csv **Description:** The metadata .csv file describes each column and type of data included in the data file, "WilliamsonEtAl2025_ZJLS_Patagona_specimen_identification.csv". **File name:** WilliamsonEtAl2025_TableS5_SouthernsMisidentifiedAsPeruviana_METADATA.csv **Description:** The metadata .csv file describes each column and type of data included in the data file, "WilliamsonEtAl2025_TableS5_SouthernsMisidentifiedAsPeruviana.csv". # Data archiving Analysis code is available on GitHub: [https://github.com/jlwilliamson/Patagona_taxonomy/tree/main](https://github.com/jlwilliamson/Patagona_taxonomy/tree/main). See the GitHub repository README.md file for a description of scripts and code. Questions? Contact me at [jlw432@cornell.edu](mailto:jlw432@cornell.edu) or [jessie.williamson@uwyo.edu](mailto:jessie.williamson@uwyo.edu).