The subfamily Lesbiinae contains two tribes: Lesbiini and Heliantheini. The Lesbiini tribe has 18 genera and a total of 67 species. This species of hummingbirds are commonly referred to as the "coquettes" as the largest group in the Lesbiini tribe all have the word "coquette" in their name.
Naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach introduced this tribe in 1854. The species of hummingbirds in this tribe are also called “coquettes.” It was named so because the largest group in the Lesbiini tribe (Lophornis) has the most “coquettes.”
Table of Contents
Cladogram – relationships between hummingbird groups
As defined by Dickinson & Remsen according to the phylogenetic studies done by Jimmy McGuire
Lesbiini Tribe Species Characteristics
| Genus | Living species |
| Aglaeactis | Shining sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) White-tufted sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii) Purple-backed sunbeam (Aglaeactis aliciae) Black-hooded sunbeam (Aglaeactis pamela) |
| Boissonneaua | Buff-tailed coronet (Boissonneaua flavescens) Chestnut-breasted coronet (Boissonneaua matthewsii) Velvet-purple coronet (Boissonneaua jardini) |
| Coeligena | Bronzy inca (Coeligena coeligena) Brown inca (Coeligena wilsoni) Black inca (Coeligena prunellei) Collared inca (Coeligena torquata) Violet-throated starfrontlet (Coeligena violifer) Rainbow starfrontlet (Coeligena iris) White-tailed starfrontlet (Coeligena phalerata) Dusky starfrontlet (Coeligena orina) Buff-winged starfrontlet (Coeligena lutetiae) Golden-bellied starfrontlet (Coeligena bonapartei) Blue-throated starfrontlet (Coeligena helianthea) |
| Ensifera | Sword-billed hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera) |
| Eriocnemis | Black-breasted puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis) Gorgeted puffleg (Eriocnemis isabellae) Glowing puffleg (Eriocnemis vestita) Black-thighed puffleg (Eriocnemis derbyi) Turquoise-throated puffleg (Eriocnemis godini) Coppery-bellied puffleg (Eriocnemis cupreoventris) Sapphire-vented puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani) Golden-breasted puffleg (Eriocnemis mosquera) Blue-capped puffleg (Eriocnemis glaucopoides) Colorful puffleg (Eriocnemis mirabilis) Emerald-bellied puffleg (Eriocnemis aline) |
| Haplophaedia | Greenish puffleg (Haplophaedia aureliae) Buff-thighed puffleg (Haplophaedia assimilis) Hoary puffleg (Haplophaedia lugens) |
| Heliodoxa | Velvet-browed brilliant (Heliodoxa xanthogonys) Pink-throated brilliant (Heliodoxa gularis) Rufous-webbed brilliant (Heliodoxa branickii) Black-throated brilliant (Heliodoxa schreibersii) Gould’s jewelfront (Heliodoxa aurescens) Fawn-breasted brilliant (Heliodoxa rubinoides) Green-crowned brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula) Empress brilliant (Heliodoxa imperatrix) Violet-fronted brilliant (Heliodoxa leadbeateri) Brazilian ruby (Heliodoxa rubricauda) |
| Lafresnaya | Mountain velvetbreast (Lafresnaya lafresnayi) |
| Loddigesia | Marvelous spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) |
| Ocreatus | White-booted racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii) Peruvian racket-tail (Ocreatus peruanus) Rufous-booted racket-tail (Ocreatus addae) |
| Pterophanes | Great sapphirewing (Pterophanes cyanopterus) |
| Urochroa | Rufous-gaped hillstar (Urochroa bougueri) Green-backed hillstar (Urochroa leucura) |
| Urosticte | Purple-bibbed whitetip (Urosticte benjamini) Rufous-vented whitetip (Urosticte ruficrissa) |
Heliangelus
This group of hummingbirds are commonly called “sunangels” and are found on montane habitats – which are the sides and elevations of mountainous terrain. This specific genus contains nine sub-species all with the word “sunangel” in their names. The origin of the name stems from the Greek “helios” which stands for light, and the Greek “angelos” which means angels.
The Amethyst-throated sunangel (Heliangelus amethysticollis) ranges in Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. Males have purple gorgets and buffy-white bands across the top chest. Females have a buffy gorget that can have a purple patch.
Flame-throated sunangel, Heliangelus micrastur – Peru and Ecuador. They have a black bill, metallic green backs and lower breasts, gray bellies, and pale or white vents.
Gorgeted sunangel, Heliangelus strophianus – Colombia and Ecuador. They typically have iridescent pink-purple gorgets, s straight bill, and a white chest band that stands out.
Longuemare’s sunangel, Heliangelus clarisse – Colombia and Venezuela
Merida sunangel, Heliangelus spencei, is a Venezuelan native with a black bill, green upper parts, a green crown, and a light blue spot above the bill.
Orange-throated sunangel, Heliangelus mavors – Venezuela and Colombia. Males have green feathers mostly and are buff and green below and green-spotted below with an orange gorget. Females have a green-spotted buffy neck.
The purple-throated sunangel (Heliangelus viola) inhabits shrubs and forest edges in Peru and Ecuador. These hummingbirds have emerald green plumage, straight bill, purple gorget, and a blue forecrown. Females look duller.
Royal sunangel, Heliangelus regalis – Ecuador and Peru. Males have a deep blue plumage and long tails. Females have green plumage, a blue tail, buffy or white collars, necks, and underparts.
Tourmaline sunangel, Heliangelus exortis – Colombia and Ecuador. Their plumage is dark, and the bills are straight. Males have purple neck patches and blueish-green forecrown, white undertail coverts. Females have a white neck
Sephanoides
- Also called fire crowns.
- Distribution:
Green-backed firecrown, Sephanoides sephaniodes – Chile, Argentina, Juan Fernández Islands. They have straight bills, dark green plumage, a white patch below the eye, shaggy forehead. Females have green crowns. The picture above shows the hummingbird raising its’ crown feathers.
Juan Fernández firecrown, Sephanoides fernandensis – native in Isla Róbinson Crusoe in Chile. Males have a mostly orange plumage all-around and an iridescent firecrown. Females have green upper parts, light bellies with blue and green spots, a blue crown, and white tail sides.
Discosura
- The word comes from the Ancient Greek diskos, which means “plate,” and oura, which means “tail.”
- Distribution:
Black-bellied thorntail, Discosura langsdorffi – mature rainforests in Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela. Males have iridescent green plumage, a shite rump band, long tails, and a black belly. Females have dull plumage and short tails.
Green thorntail, Discosura conversii – gardens and forests in Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador. They have a short bill and white band on the rump. Males have iridescent green plumage and elongated tail feathers. Females have a white mustache and short tails.
Letitia’s thorntail, Discosura letitiae – only seen in Bolivia
Racket-tailed coquette, Discosura longicauda – endemic to northern South America in rainforests and around rivers. They have a buffy rump band. Males are usually small and have green plumage, white bellies, and elongated tail feathers. Females have green upperparts, white underparts, and green speckles on the throat.
Wire-crested thorntail, Discosura popelairii – Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia & Peru. Loves higher elevations and shrubs. Males have long tails, a small straight beak, a wirelike crest, and a wide band through the rump. Females have a white mustache and a white band on the rump.
Lophornis
The word comes from the Ancient Greek lophos, meaning “crest,” and ornis meaning “bird.” Most species are tiny birds (most under 7.5 cm and 3 grams) that stand out through their incredibly colorful crests.
Species characteristics:
Black-crested coquette, Lophornis helenae – Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Honduras.
Butterfly coquette, Lophornis verreauxii – Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela.
Dot-eared coquette, Lophornis gouldii – Bolivia and Brazil
Festive coquette, Lophornis chalybeus – Brazil native
Frilled coquette, Lophornis magnificus – Brazil native
Peacock coquette, Lophornis pavoninus – Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana.
Rufous-crested coquette, Lophornis delattrei – Pacific South America (Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama)
Short-crested coquette, Lophornis brachylophus – Mexico native
Spangled coquette, Lophornis stictolophus – Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru
Tufted coquette, Lophornis ornatus – breeding grounds in the east of Venezuela, Guiana, northern Brazil, and Trinidad
White-crested coquette, Lophornis adorabilis – Costa Rica and Panama
Phlogophilus
- also called piedtails
- Species characteristics:
Ecuadorian piedtail, Phlogophilus hemileucurus – Colombia, Peru and Ecuador
Peruvian piedtail, Phlogophilus harterti – Peru native
Adelomyia
Speckled hummingbird, Adelomyia melanogenys
- monomorphic species
- Habitat and distribution: mountains of Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, and Venezuela; montane forest in western Ecuador and Venezuela
Aglaiocercus
Distribution:
Long-tailed sylph, Aglaiocercus kingii – Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela
Venezuelan sylph, Aglaiocercus berlepschi – endangered species in northeastern Venezuela
Violet-tailed sylph, Aglaiocercus coelestis – Colombia and Ecuador
Sappho
Red-tailed comet, Sappho sparganurus
- a generally larger hummingbird – 15-22 cm
- Habitat and distribution: scrubs and woodlands in Chile, Peru, and the central Andes of Bolivia and Argentina
Polyonymus
Bronze-tailed comet, Polyonymus caroli
Habitat and distribution: Peru native that loves montane scrublands and woods.
Taphrolesbia
Grey-bellied comet, Taphrolesbia griseiventris
- Endangered species – habitat loss due to agricultural practices
- Habitat and distribution: a species that loves tropical and subtropical shrublands and rural gardens in Peru.
Oreotrochilus
- Also called hillstars
- typical habitats include scrubs, grasslands, and woodlands
- Distribution:
Andean hillstar, Oreotrochilus estella – Bolivia, Argentina, Peru, and Chile.
Black-breasted hillstar, Oreotrochilus melanogaster – Peru native
Blue-throated hillstar, Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus – Andes of Ecuador
Ecuadorian hillstar, Oreotrochilus chimborazo – the Andes of Ecuador and southern Colombia.
Green-headed hillstar, Oreotrochilus stolzmanni – the Andes of southern Ecuador and Peru
Wedge-tailed hillstar, Oreotrochilus Adela – Argentina and Bolivia
White-sided hillstar, Oreotrochilus leucopleurus – Argentina, Chile and Bolivia
Opisthoprora
Mountain avocetbill, Opisthoprora euryptera
Habitat and distribution: humid montane forests and elfin forests in Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador
Lesbia
- Also known as trainbearers
- Distribution: tropical South America
Black-tailed trainbearer, Lesbia victoriae – high elevations in Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador
Green-tailed trainbearer, Lesbia Nuna – Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Ramphomicron
Distribution:
Black-backed thornbill, Ramphomicron dorsale – Colombia native (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta); endangered species
Purple-backed thornbill, Ramphomicron microrhynchum – Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Chalcostigma
- The word comes from the Ancient Greek khalkos, which means bronze, and stigme, which means mark
- Distribution:
Blue-mantled thornbill, Chalcostigma stanleyi – Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador
Bronze-tailed thornbill, Chalcostigma heteropogon – Colombia and Venezuela
Olivaceous thornbill, Chalcostigma olivaceum – Bolivia and Peru
Rainbow-bearded thornbill, Chalcostigma herrani – Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador
Rufous-capped thornbill, Chalcostigma ruficeps – Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador
Oxypogon
- also called bearded helmetcrests
- oxus means “sharp” and pōgōn means “beard” in Ancient Greek
- Distribution:
Blue-bearded helmetcrest, Oxypogon cyanolaemus – Colombia native (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta)
Buffy helmetcrest, Oxypogon stuebelii – Colombia native
Green-bearded helmetcrest, Oxypogon guerinii – Colombia native
White-bearded helmetcrest, Oxypogon lindenii – northwestern Venezuela native
Oreonympha
Bearded mountaineer, Oreonympha nobilis
Habitat and distribution – Peru native loves dry valleys, scrubs, woodlands, plantations, and urban areas.
Metallura
- Also called metaltails
- Distribution:
Black metaltail, Metallura phoebe – Peru native
Coppery metaltail, Metallura theresiae – Peru native
Fiery-throated metaltail, Metallura eupogon – Peru native
Neblina metaltail, Metallura odomae – Ecuador and Peru
Perija metaltail, Metallura iracunda – Colombia and Venezuela
Scaled metaltail, Metallura aeneocauda – Bolivia and Peru
Tyrian metaltail, Metallura tyrianthina – Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela
Violet-throated metaltail, Metallura baroni – Ecuador native
Viridian metaltail, Metallura williami – Colombia and Ecuador
Sources:
McGuire, Jimmy A., Christopher C. Witt, J. V. Remsen Jr, Ammon Corl, Daniel L. Rabosky, Douglas L. Altshuler, and Robert Dudley. “Molecular phylogenetics and the diversification of hummingbirds.” Current Biology 24, no. 8 (2014): 910-916.
Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1: Non-passerines (4th ed.). Eastbourne, UK: Aves Press. ISBN 978-0-9568611-0-8 .
