Purple-crowned Fairy
Purple-crowned Fairy (Heliothryx barroti)
Name Origin:
The genus Heliothryx comes from Greek helios meaning “sun” and thrix meaning “hair,” likely referring to its shimmering plumage and delicate appearance. The species name barroti honors Barrot de Mornay, a French diplomat and collector in Central America.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 10.5–11.5 cm (4.1–4.5 in)
⚖️ Weight: ~4.5–5 g (0.16–0.18 oz)
🌎 Range: Southeastern Mexico to western Ecuador
🧭 Elevation: Sea level to 1,200 m
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Lowland rainforest, forest edges, and tall secondary growth
🧬 Clade: Polytminae (a.k.a. “mangoes”)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Monotypic — no subspecies recognized.
Species Overview
The Purple-crowned Fairy is an elegant, long-tailed hummingbird of humid tropical lowland forest. Males show a striking contrast between their glowing purple crown, white underparts, and dark green back and tail. This species moves quickly and frequently between midstory flowers, often feeding while hovering in a bee-like fashion. It is often seen singly or loosely associated with mixed-species flocks near flowering trees.
Male Description:
Iridescent purple crown, shining green upperparts, bright white underparts, and long, forked dark green tail. Thin straight black bill. The contrast in coloration is bold and unmistakable.
Female Description:
Similar to male but with a duller green crown, less iridescence, and shorter forked tail. White underparts and bold face pattern are shared with the male.
Habitat & Behavior:
Found in humid lowland forest and tall second growth, especially near flowering trees and along forest edges. Often forages in the mid to upper levels of the forest. Not typically aggressive, it moves rapidly from flower to flower and also takes small insects on the wing. Inconspicuous when not feeding, but its rapid, direct flight and gleaming white underside make it noticeable in good light.
Conservation Note:
Though its habitat is under pressure from deforestation and fragmentation, the Purple-crowned Fairy remains locally common across its range and adapts somewhat to secondary forests. Populations appear stable, and the species benefits from occurrence in several protected reserves across Mesoamerica and western South America.
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