About the Horned Sungem
The horned sungem is a species of hummingbird native to much of central Brazil and parts of Bolivia and Suriname. It prefers open habitats such as savanna and grassland and readily occupies human-created habitats such as gardens. It recently expanded its range into southern Amazonas and Espírito Santo, probably as a result of deforestation; few other hummingbird species have recently expanded their range. The horned sungem is a small hummingbird with a long tail and a comparatively short, black bill. The sexes differ markedly in appearance, with males sporting two feather tufts ("horns") above the eyes that are shiny red, golden, and green. Males also have a shiny blue head crest and a black throat with a pointed "beard". The female is plainer and has a brown or yellow-buff throat. The species is the only one within its genus, Heliactin.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Apodiformes |
| Family | Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) |
| Species | Heliactin bilophus |
| Species Codes | horsun2, HOSU |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Horned Sungem belong to?
The Horned Sungem (Heliactin bilophus) belongs to the Hummingbirds family (Trochilidae), in the order Apodiformes.
How can I identify the Horned Sungem?
The horned sungem is a species of hummingbird native to much of central Brazil and parts of Bolivia and Suriname. It prefers open habitats such as savanna and grassland and readily occupies human-created habitats such as gardens. It recently expanded its range into southern Amazonas and Espírito San...
Where can I report a Horned Sungem sighting?
You can log sightings of Horned Sungem on eBird (ebird.org) using species code horsun2, or on iNaturalist.