The barbthroats are a genus Threnetes of South American hummingbirds in the family Trochilidae.
Taxonomy The genus Threnetes was introduced in 1852 by the English ornithologist John Gould. The 5 volumes were issued in 25 parts between 1849 and 1861. Title pages of all volumes bear the date of 1861. The name is from the Ancient Greek thrēnētēs meaning "mourner". The type species is the pale-tailed barbthroat. The genus contains three species.
The supposed "black barbthroats", described as T. grzimeki, are actually juvenile males of the rufous-breasted hermit (Glaucis hirsuta).
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