Photo: Joao Quental / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-eared Fairy
Heliothryx auritus
Black-eared Fairy (Heliothryx auritus) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-eared Fairy (Heliothryx auritus) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 5.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Heliothryx
- Species auritus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.4 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-eared Fairy is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Black-eared Fairy is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-eared Fairy (Heliothryx auritus) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA Amazonia and e.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.4 g, with a wing length of about 6.5 cm and a tail of around 5.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-eared Fairy?
The Black-eared Fairy is a very small bird that weighs around 5.4 g.
Where does the Black-eared Fairy live?
The Black-eared Fairy is found across South America with a range covering SA Amazonia and e, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-eared Fairy belong to?
The Black-eared Fairy (Heliothryx auritus) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Black-eared Fairy eat?
The Black-eared Fairy is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Black-eared Fairy migrate?
The Black-eared Fairy is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-eared Fairy endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-eared Fairy make?
1 real field recording of the Black-eared Fairy — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-eared Fairy's range?
The Black-eared Fairy has a mapped global range of about 6.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Hummingbird Feeders
How to choose a hummingbird feeder — the two main styles compared, the right sugar-water mix, and how to keep it clean so the birds stay safe. A decision framework with the hummingbird species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Trochilidae
A field guide to the Trochilidae family — 366 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.