Photo: steve b / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Horned Sungem
Heliactin bilophus
Horned Sungem (Heliactin bilophus) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Horned Sungem (Heliactin bilophus) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 4.4 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 Heliactin
- Species bilophus
Where it lives
Southern Suriname and northern Brazil; eastern, southeastern Brazil to eastern Bolivia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.4 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Horned Sungem is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Horned Sungem is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Horned Sungem (Heliactin bilophus) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA s Suriname and n Brazil; e, se Brazil to e Bolivia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 4.4 g, with a wing length of about 4.8 cm and a tail of around 5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Horned Sungem?
The Horned Sungem is a very small bird that weighs around 4.4 g.
Where does the Horned Sungem live?
The Horned Sungem is found across South America with a range covering SA s Suriname and n Brazil; e, se Brazil to e Bolivia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Horned Sungem belong to?
The Horned Sungem (Heliactin bilophus) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Horned Sungem eat?
The Horned Sungem is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Horned Sungem migrate?
The Horned Sungem is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Horned Sungem 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 Horned Sungem make?
1 real field recording of the Horned Sungem — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Horned Sungem's range?
The Horned Sungem has a mapped global range of about 3.9 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.