Black-eared Fairy
Black-eared Fairy (Heliothryx auritus)
Name Origin:
The genus name Heliothryx combines the Greek helios meaning “sun” and thrix meaning “hair” or “plume,” referring to the species’ shining plumage and long, hair-like tail streamers. The species name auritus comes from the Latin auris meaning “ear,” describing the dark ear patch that gives this hummingbird its common name.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 10–12 cm (3.9–4.7 in)
⚖️ Weight: 5–6 g (0.18–0.21 oz)
🌎 Range: Northern and central South America
🧭 Elevation: Sea level to 1,200 m (3,940 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Humid lowland rainforest, forest edges, and secondary growth
🧬 Clade: Trochilini "Emeralds" (mid- to lowland hummingbirds)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Subspecies & Distribution
1. H. a. auritus
Distribution: Southeastern Colombia and eastern Ecuador through northern Brazil (north of the Amazon) to northeastern Venezuela (east to Sucre) and the Guianas.
2. H. a. auriculatus
Distribution: Eastern Peru and central Bolivia to central Brazil (Amazonia south of the Amazon east through Mato Grosso to the Tapajós River), and eastern Brazil from Bahia south to Espírito Santo, southern Minas Gerais, and São Paulo, irregularly to Santa Catarina.
3. H. a. phainolaemus
Distribution: North-central Brazil south of the Amazon in Pará and Maranhão.
Species Overview
The Black-eared Fairy is a luminous and active hummingbird of the tropical lowlands, often seen flitting gracefully beneath the canopy of humid rainforest. Its clean white underparts, dark ear patch, and shining green back make it easy to recognize, while its elegant flight and long tail streamers give it a fairy-like appearance.
Male Description:
The male has brilliant green upperparts, a black ear patch bordered by iridescent blue, and pure white underparts. The tail is long and deeply forked, with outer feathers tipped in blue-black. The bill is straight and black. In flight, the contrast between the glowing green back and white belly is striking against the forest light.
Female Description:
The female resembles the male but has shorter tail streamers and slightly duller upperparts. Her ear patch is less pronounced, and her underparts may show a faint grayish wash. She forages actively in the midstory and canopy, often visiting clusters of small tubular flowers.
Habitat & Behavior:
This species inhabits humid lowland and foothill forests, edges, and riverine woodlands, most often in the subcanopy and along forest gaps. It feeds on nectar from small flowers and occasionally hawks insects in mid-air. The Black-eared Fairy is frequently seen gliding between flowering trees, flashing its long white belly and contrasting ear mark in short, fluttering flights.
Conservation Note:
Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the Black-eared Fairy remains widespread across northern and central South America. It adapts moderately well to secondary forests but is vulnerable to extensive deforestation in the Amazon basin. Protecting lowland rainforest corridors and riparian forest edges is crucial to maintaining populations of this graceful and visually striking species.
Below is the Black-eared Fairy (Heliothryx auritus auritus)
Photographed at Village Inn Mari-Mari, Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas, Brazil
This individual belongs to the subspecies auritus, which occurs across the Amazon Basin from Venezuela and Colombia through northern Brazil. It inhabits humid terra firme forest, riverine forest, and canopy-edge clearings where it gleans small insects and drinks from scattered flowers.
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Below is the Black-eared Fairy (Heliothryx auritus phainolaemus)
Photographed in El Dorado, São Paulo, Brazil
This individual represents the subspecies phainolaemus, which inhabits the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil from Bahia south to São Paulo. It favors humid forest canopy, edges, and secondary growth where it actively feeds on small flowers and aerial insects.
