From Opus

Family: Trochilidae

[edit] Description

Hummingbirds as currently understood is a family entirely limited to the Americas. Two fossils from Germany hint that may not always have been the case, as these fossils show very hummingbird-like birds from more than 30 million years ago in Germany, Europe¹.

Hummingbirds all have five pairs of tail feathers (rectrices). The tail tends to be disproportionately larger in large species, and the variation in shape is largest in small species; therefore, strongly forked tails are almost only seen in small species, but other small species show a graduated tail..

Hummingbirds generally have sexual roles where the males provide no incubation or care for nestlings. In agreement with this division, most species are sexually dimorphic with the males much more ornamental than the females.

[edit] Taxonomy

Trochilidae is a Family in the Order Apodiformes.

Family Trochilidae view • edit
	Genus Topaza view • edit T. pella Crimson Topaz T. pyra Fiery Topaz
	Genus Florisuga view • edit F. mellivora White-necked Jacobin F. fuscus Black Jacobin
	Genus Eutoxeres view • edit E. aquila White-tipped Sicklebill E. condamini Buff-tailed Sicklebill
	Genus Ramphodon view • edit R. naevius Saw-billed Hermit
	Genus Glaucis view • edit G. dohrnii Hook-billed Hermit G. aeneus Bronzy Hermit G. hirsutus Rufous-breasted Hermit
	Genus Threnetes view • edit T. ruckeri Band-tailed Barbthroat T. leucurus Pale-tailed Barbthroat T. niger Sooty Barbthroat
	Genus Anopetia view • edit A. gounellei Broad-tipped Hermit
	Genus Phaethornis view • edit P. hispidus White-bearded Hermit P. yaruqui White-whiskered Hermit P. guy Green Hermit P. syrmatophorus Tawny-bellied Hermit P. koepckeae Koepcke's Hermit P. philippii Needle-billed Hermit P. bourcieri Straight-billed Hermit P. longirostris Long-billed Hermit P. superciliosus Long-tailed Hermit P. malaris Great-billed Hermit P. anthophilus Pale-bellied Hermit P. squalidus Dusky-throated Hermit P. rupurumii Streak-throated Hermit P. longuemareus Little Hermit P. aethopyga Tapajos Hermit P. idaliae Minute Hermit P. nattereri Cinnamon-throated Hermit P. atrimentalis Black-throated Hermit P. striigularis Stripe-throated Hermit P. griseogularis Gray-chinned Hermit P. ruber Reddish Hermit P. stuarti White-browed Hermit P. subochraceus Buff-bellied Hermit P. augusti Sooty-capped Hermit P. pretrei Planalto Hermit P. eurynome Scale-throated Hermit
	Genus Doryfera view • edit D. ludovicae Green-fronted Lancebill D. johannae Blue-fronted Lancebill
	Genus Schistes view • edit S. geoffroyi Wedge-billed Hummingbird
	Genus Augastes view • edit A. scutatus Hyacinth Visorbearer A. lumachella Hooded Visorbearer
	Genus Colibri view • edit C. delphinae Brown Violetear C. thalassinus Green Violetear C. coruscans Sparkling Violetear C. serrirostris White-vented Violetear
	Genus Androdon view • edit A. aequatorialis Tooth-billed Hummingbird
	Genus Heliactin view • edit H. bilophus Horned Sungem
	Genus Heliothryx view • edit H. barroti Purple-crowned Fairy H. auritus Black-eared Fairy
	Genus Polytmus view • edit P. guainumbi White-tailed Goldenthroat P. milleri Tepui Goldenthroat P. theresiae Green-tailed Goldenthroat
	Genus Avocettula view • edit A. recurvirostris Fiery-tailed Awlbill
	Genus Chrysolampis view • edit C. mosquitus Ruby-topaz Hummingbird
	Genus Anthracothorax view • edit A. viridigula Green-throated Mango A. prevostii Green-breasted Mango A. nigricollis Black-throated Mango A. veraguensis Veraguan Mango A. dominicus Antillean Mango A. viridis Green Mango A. mango Jamaican Mango
	Genus Eulampis view • edit E. jugularis Purple-throated Carib E. holosericeus Green-throated Carib
	Genus Heliangelus view • edit H. mavors Orange-throated Sunangel H. amethysticollis Amethyst-throated Sunangel H. strophianus Gorgeted Sunangel H. exortis Tourmaline Sunangel H. micraster Little Sunangel H. viola Purple-throated Sunangel H. zusii Bogota Sunangel H. regalis Royal Sunangel
	Genus Sephanoides view • edit S. sephanoides Green-backed Firecrown S. fernandensis Juan Fernandez Firecrown
	Genus Discosura view • edit D. popelairii Wire-crested Thorntail D. langsdorffi Black-bellied Thorntail D. letitiae Coppery Thorntail D. conversii Green Thorntail D. longicaudus Racket-tailed Coquette
	Genus Lophornis view • edit L. ornatus Tufted Coquette L. gouldii Dot-eared Coquette L. magnificus Frilled Coquette L. brachylophus Short-crested Coquette L. delattrei Rufous-crested Coquette L. stictolophus Spangled Coquette L. chalybeus Festive Coquette L. pavoninus Peacock Coquette L. helenae Black-crested Coquette L. adorabilis White-crested Coquette
	Genus Phlogophilus view • edit P. hemileucurus Ecuadorian Piedtail P. harterti Peruvian Piedtail
	Genus Adelomyia view • edit A. melanogenys Speckled Hummingbird
	Genus Anthocephala view • edit A. floriceps Blossomcrown
	Genus Aglaiocercus view • edit A. kingi Long-tailed Sylph A. coelestis Violet-tailed Sylph A. berlepschi Venezuelan Sylph
	Genus Sappho view • edit S. sparganura Red-tailed Comet
	Genus Polyonymus view • edit P. caroli Bronze-tailed Comet
	Genus Taphrolesbia view • edit T. griseiventris Gray-bellied Comet
	Genus Oreotrochilus view • edit O. chimborazo Ecuadorian Hillstar O. estella Andean Hillstar O. leucopleurus White-sided Hillstar O. melanogaster Black-breasted Hillstar O. adela Wedge-tailed Hillstar
	Genus Opisthoprora view • edit O. euryptera Mountain Avocetbill
	Genus Lesbia view • edit L. victoriae Black-tailed Trainbearer L. nuna Green-tailed Trainbearer
	Genus Ramphomicron view • edit R. dorsale Black-backed Thornbill R. microrhynchum Purple-backed Thornbill
	Genus Chalcostigma view • edit C. ruficeps Rufous-capped Thornbill C. olivaceum Olivaceous Thornbill C. stanleyi Blue-mantled Thornbill C. heteropogon Bronze-tailed Thornbill C. herrani Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
	Genus Oxypogon view • edit O. guerinii Bearded Helmetcrest
	Genus Oreonympha view • edit O. nobilis Bearded Mountaineer
	Genus Metallura view • edit M. iracunda Perija Metaltail M. tyrianthina Tyrian Metaltail M. williami Viridian Metaltail M. baroni Violet-throated Metaltail M. odomae Neblina Metaltail M. theresiae Coppery Metaltail M. eupogon Fire-throated Metaltail M. aeneocauda Scaled Metaltail M. phoebe Black Metaltail
	Genus Haplophaedia view • edit H. aureliae Greenish Puffleg H. assimilis Buff-thighed Puffleg H. lugens Hoary Puffleg
	Genus Eriocnemis view • edit E. nigrivestis Black-breasted Puffleg E. isabellae Gorgeted Puffleg E. vestita Glowing Puffleg E. derbyi Black-thighed Puffleg E. godini Turquoise-throated Puffleg E. cupreoventris Coppery-bellied Puffleg E. luciani Sapphire-vented Puffleg E. mosquera Golden-breasted Puffleg E. glaucopoides Blue-capped Puffleg E. mirabilis Colorful Puffleg E. alinae Emerald-bellied Puffleg
	Genus Loddigesia view • edit L. mirabilis Marvelous Spatuletail
	Genus Aglaeactis view • edit A. cupripennis Shining Sunbeam A. castelnaudii White-tufted Sunbeam A. aliciae Purple-backed Sunbeam A. pamela Black-hooded Sunbeam
	Genus Coeligena view • edit C. coeligena Bronzy Inca C. wilsoni Brown Inca C. prunellei Black Inca C. torquata Collared Inca C. phalerata White-tailed Starfrontlet C. orina Dusky Starfrontlet C. bonapartei Golden-bellied Starfrontlet C. helianthea Blue-throated Starfrontlet C. lutetiae Buff-winged Starfrontlet C. violifer Violet-throated Starfrontlet C. iris Rainbow Starfrontlet
	Genus Lafresnaya view • edit L. lafresnayi Mountain Velvetbreast
	Genus Ensifera view • edit E. ensifera Sword-billed Hummingbird
	Genus Pterophanes view • edit P. cyanopterus Great Sapphirewing
	Genus Boissonneaua view • edit B. flavescens Buff-tailed Coronet B. matthewsii Chestnut-breasted Coronet B. jardini Velvet-purple Coronet
	Genus Ocreatus view • edit O. underwoodii Booted Racket-tail
	Genus Urochroa view • edit U. bougueri White-tailed Hillstar
	Genus Urosticte view • edit U. benjamini Purple-bibbed Whitetip U. ruficrissa Rufous-vented Whitetip
	Genus Heliodoxa view • edit H. xanthogonys Velvet-browed Brilliant H. gularis Pink-throated Brilliant H. branickii Rufous-webbed Brilliant H. schreibersii Black-throated Brilliant H. aurescens Gould's Jewelfront H. rubinoides Fawn-breasted Brilliant H. jacula Green-crowned Brilliant H. imperatrix Empress Brilliant H. leadbeateri Violet-fronted Brilliant
	Genus Clytolaema view • edit C. rubricauda Brazilian Ruby
	Genus Patagona view • edit P. gigas Giant Hummingbird
	Genus Sternoclyta view • edit S. cyanopectus Violet-chested Hummingbird
	Genus Hylonympha view • edit H. macrocerca Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
	Genus Eugenes view • edit E. fulgens Magnificent Hummingbird
	Genus Heliomaster view • edit H. longirostris Long-billed Starthroat H. constantii Plain-capped Starthroat H. squamosus Stripe-breasted Starthroat H. furcifer Blue-tufted Starthroat
	Genus Panterpe view • edit P. insignis Fiery-throated Hummingbird
	Genus Lampornis view • edit L. viridipallens Green-throated Mountain-gem L. sybillae Green-breasted Mountain-gem L. amethystinus Amethyst-throated Hummingbird L. clemenciae Blue-throated Hummingbird L. hemileucus White-bellied Mountain-gem L. calolaemus Purple-throated Mountain-gem L. castaneoventris White-throated Mountain-gem L. cinereicauda Gray-tailed Mountain-gem
	Genus Lamprolaima view • edit L. rhami Garnet-throated Hummingbird
	Genus Myrtis view • edit M. fanny Purple-collared Woodstar
	Genus Eulidia view • edit E. yarrellii Chilean Woodstar
	Genus Rhodopis view • edit R. vesper Oasis Hummingbird
	Genus Thaumastura view • edit T. cora Peruvian Sheartail
	Genus Chaetocercus view • edit C. mulsanti White-bellied Woodstar C. bombus Little Woodstar C. heliodor Gorgeted Woodstar C. astreans Santa Marta Woodstar C. berlepschi Esmeraldas Woodstar C. jourdanii Rufous-shafted Woodstar
	Genus Myrmia view • edit M. micrura Short-tailed Woodstar
	Genus Microstilbon view • edit M. burmeisteri Slender-tailed Woodstar
	Genus Doricha view • edit D. enicura Slender Sheartail D. eliza Mexican Sheartail
	Genus Tilmatura view • edit T. dupontii Sparkling-tailed Woodstar
	Genus Calothorax view • edit C. lucifer Lucifer Hummingbird C. pulcher Beautiful Hummingbird
	Genus Calliphlox view • edit C. evelynae Bahama Woodstar C. bryantae Magenta-throated Woodstar C. mitchellii Purple-throated Woodstar C. amethystina Amethyst Woodstar
	Genus Archilochus view • edit A. colubris Ruby-throated Hummingbird A. alexandri Black-chinned Hummingbird
	Genus Mellisuga view • edit M. minima Vervain Hummingbird M. helenae Bee Hummingbird
	Genus Calypte view • edit C. anna Anna's Hummingbird C. costae Costa's Hummingbird
	Genus Atthis view • edit A. heloisa Bumblebee Hummingbird A. ellioti Wine-throated Hummingbird
	Genus Selasphorus view • edit S. platycercus Broad-tailed Hummingbird S. rufus Rufous Hummingbird S. sasin Allen's Hummingbird S. flammula Volcano Hummingbird S. ardens Glow-throated Hummingbird S. scintilla Scintillant Hummingbird S. calliope Calliope Hummingbird
	Genus Chlorostilbon view • edit C. melanorhynchus Western Emerald C. gibsoni Red-billed Emerald C. mellisugus Blue-tailed Emerald C. auriceps Golden-crowned Emerald C. forficatus Cozumel Emerald C. canivetii Canivet's Emerald C. assimilis Garden Emerald C. olivaresi Chiribiquete Emerald C. ricordii Cuban Emerald C. bracei Brace's Emerald C. swainsonii Hispaniolan Emerald C. maugaeus Puerto Rican Emerald C. aureoventris Glittering-bellied Emerald C. russatus Coppery Emerald C. stenurus Narrow-tailed Emerald C. alice Green-tailed Emerald C. poortmani Short-tailed Emerald
	Genus Chlorestes view • edit C. notata Blue-chinned Sapphire
	Genus Cynanthus view • edit C. sordidus Dusky Hummingbird C. latirostris Broad-billed Hummingbird
	Genus Cyanophaia view • edit C. bicolor Blue-headed Hummingbird
	Genus Orthorhyncus view • edit O. cristatus Antillean Crested Hummingbird
	Genus Klais view • edit K. guimeti Violet-headed Hummingbird
	Genus Abeillia view • edit A. abeillei Emerald-chinned Hummingbird
	Genus Stephanoxis view • edit S. lalandi Plovercrest
	Genus Phaeochroa view • edit P. cuvierii Scaly-breasted Hummingbird
	Genus Campylopterus view • edit C. curvipennis Wedge-tailed Sabrewing C. excellens Long-tailed Sabrewing C. largipennis Gray-breasted Sabrewing C. rufus Rufous Sabrewing C. hemileucurus Violet Sabrewing C. hyperythrus Rufous-breasted Sabrewing C. ensipennis White-tailed Sabrewing C. falcatus Lazuline Sabrewing C. phainopeplus Santa Marta Sabrewing C. villaviscensio Napo Sabrewing C. duidae Buff-breasted Sabrewing
	Genus Eupetomena view • edit E. macrourus Swallow-tailed Hummingbird
	Genus Chalybura view • edit C. buffonii White-vented Plumeleteer C. urochrysia Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer
	Genus Thalurania view • edit T. ridgwayi Mexican Woodnymph T. colombica Violet-crowned Woodnymph T. fannyi Green-crowned Woodnymph T. furcata Fork-tailed Woodnymph T. watertonii Long-tailed Woodnymph T. glaucopis Violet-capped Woodnymph
	Genus Eupherusa view • edit E. eximia Stripe-tailed Hummingbird E. cyanophrys Oaxaca Hummingbird E. poliocerca White-tailed Hummingbird E. nigriventris Black-bellied Hummingbird
	Genus Elvira view • edit E. chionura White-tailed Emerald E. cupreiceps Coppery-headed Emerald
	Genus Microchera view • edit M. albocoronata Snowcap
	Genus Aphantochroa view • edit A. cirrochloris Sombre Hummingbird
	Genus Taphrospilus view • edit T. hypostictus Many-spotted Hummingbird
	Genus Leucochloris view • edit L. albicollis White-throated Hummingbird
	Genus Leucippus view • edit L. fallax Buffy Hummingbird L. baeri Tumbes Hummingbird L. taczanowskii Spot-throated Hummingbird L. chlorocercus Olive-spotted Hummingbird
	Genus Amazilia view • edit A. chionogaster White-bellied Hummingbird A. viridicauda Green-and-white Hummingbird A. castaneiventris Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird A. amazilia Amazilia Hummingbird A. candida White-bellied Emerald A. luciae Honduran Emerald A. brevirostris White-chested Emerald A. leucogaster Plain-bellied Emerald A. versicolor Versicolored Emerald A. franciae Andean Emerald A. fimbriata Glittering-throated Emerald A. lactea Sapphire-spangled Emerald A. amabilis Blue-chested Hummingbird A. decora Charming Hummingbird A. rosenbergi Purple-chested Hummingbird A. boucardi Mangrove Hummingbird A. cyanocephala Azure-crowned Hummingbird A. beryllina Berylline Hummingbird A. cyanura Blue-tailed Hummingbird A. saucerrottei Steely-vented Hummingbird A. cyanifrons Indigo-capped Hummingbird A. edward Snowy-bellied Hummingbird A. viridigaster Green-bellied Hummingbird A. tzacatl Rufous-tailed Hummingbird A. yucatanensis Buff-bellied Hummingbird A. rutila Cinnamon Hummingbird A. violiceps Violet-crowned Hummingbird A. viridifrons Green-fronted Hummingbird A. tobaci Copper-rumped Hummingbird
	Genus Chrysuronia view • edit C. oenone Golden-tailed Sapphire
	Genus Goethalsia view • edit G. bella Pirre Hummingbird
	Genus Goldmania view • edit G. violiceps Violet-capped Hummingbird
	Genus Trochilus view • edit T. polytmus Red-billed Streamertail T. scitulus Black-billed Streamertail
	Genus Lepidopyga view • edit L. coeruleogularis Sapphire-throated Hummingbird L. lilliae Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird L. goudoti Shining-green Hummingbird
	Genus Damophila view • edit D. julie Violet-bellied Hummingbird
	Genus Hylocharis view • edit H. humboldtii Humboldt's Sapphire H. eliciae Blue-throated Goldentail H. sapphirina Rufous-throated Sapphire H. cyanus White-chinned Sapphire H. chrysura Gilded Hummingbird H. grayi Blue-headed Sapphire
	Genus Basilinna view • edit B. leucotis White-eared Hummingbird B. xantusii Xantus's Hummingbird

[edit] References

1. A paper in Science-news describing the German hummingbird fossils
2. Paper discussing hummingbird evolution and especially their tails.

[edit] External Links