Black-eared Fairy
Common name: Black-eared Fairy
Scientific name: Heliothryx auritus
Clades: Polytminae - Mangoes
The Black-eared Fairy is 10.1 to 13.7 cm (4.0 to 5.4 in) long and weighs 4 to 6.3 g (0.14 to 0.22 oz).
Black-eared Fairies are medium-sized hummingbirds with striking white underwings, green above, and black wings, tail, and ear patches, earning them their common name. A lack of genetic information has prevented scientists from splitting the subspecies into several separate species. Currently, there are three described subspecies. Each subspecies has a different tail length, but all are proportionately long compared to its body. The species can be observed foraging in flowering shrubs, vines, and trees in wet, lowland forests, forest edges, and secondary forests. There are also reports of this species hawking insects midair.
3 subspecies:
H. a. auritus
Distribution SE Colombia and E Ecuador through N Brazil (N of Amazon) to NE Venezuela (E Sucre) and the Guianas.H. a auriculatus
Distribution E Peru and C Bolivia to C Brazil (Amazonia S of Amazon E through Mato Grosso to R Tapajós), and E Brazil (from Bahia S to Espírito Santo and S Minas Gerais and São Paulo, irregularly to Santa Catarina).H. a. phainolaemus
Distribution NC Brazil (S of Amazon in Pará and Maranhão).
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