Black-eared Fairy

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Quick Facts

  • Scientific Name: Heliothryx auritus
  • Spanish Name: Colibrí orejinegro
  • Family: Trochilidae
  • Known Nicknames: Black-eared Fairy Hummingbird
  • Average Length: 11–13 cm / 4.3–5.1 in
  • Average Weight: 4.5–6.5 g / 0.16–0.23 oz
  • Wingspan: N/A
  • Key Feature: Long, white tail streamers and a black auricular patch (ear) contrasting with green and white plumage
  • Primary Diet: Nectarivore (primarily nectar, also small insects and spiders)
  • Range: Central America (southern Mexico) to South America (Bolivia, Brazil, and the Guianas)
  • Habitat: Humid lowland and montane forest edges, clearings, and gardens
  • Social Structure: Solitary (except during mating)
  • Nesting/Breeding: Small cup-shaped nest built on a horizontal branch, often over water
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
  • Population Trend: Stable

The Black-eared Fairy (*Heliothryx auritus*) is a dazzling jewel of the Neotropics, a hummingbird that lives up to its enchanting name with a stark, elegant plumage of pure white below and iridescent emerald green above. Its most distinctive feature is the striking black auricular patch behind the eye, which contrasts brilliantly with a glowing white stripe above it, giving it a masked, fairy-like visage. Uniquely among hummingbirds, this species possesses a specialized, deeply forked tail with long, slender outer feathers that it frequently cocks upward and fans open in flight, a behavior that, combined with its rapid, darting movements, creates an ethereal, butterfly-like appearance. A master of hovering near the forest understory, it uses its long, straight bill to feed on nectar from specific flowers and to glean small insects from leaves, while its metallic, squeaky calls add to its otherworldly presence in the humid lowland forests from Honduras to the Amazon.

Fun Facts

Despite its name, the black-eared fairy isn’t technically a fairy—it’s a hummingbird with a bizarre, almost alien courtship ritual: the male hovers in front of the female, then suddenly flies backward while vibrating his tail feathers to produce a loud, mechanical *zzzzt* sound, like a tiny buzzsaw. Its scientific name *Heliothryx* means “sun hair,” referencing its iridescent emerald plumage, and it has a uniquely long, straight bill perfectly evolved to rob nectar from deep flowers by piercing their bases rather than entering the opening—a sneaky adaptation called “nectar robbing.” Oddly, this species is also known to “bathe” by repeatedly diving into streams or wet leaves, then shaking off droplets mid-air, a behavior rare among hummingbirds.

Habitats & Distribution

The Black-eared Fairy is primarily found in the humid lowland forests of the Amazon Basin, including terra firme and várzea forests, as well as forest edges and clearings. Its geographical range spans across much of northern and central South America, from eastern Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas, south through Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil, to northern Bolivia. It is also present in the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. The species typically inhabits the canopy and mid-story of these rainforests, often near streams or water sources, and is known to frequent flowering trees and shrubs.

Behaviours & Reproduction

The Black-eared Fairy is typically solitary, with males defending small feeding territories rich in nectar-producing flowers, which they aggressively chase other hummingbirds from. During the breeding season, males perform a distinctive courtship display involving a pendulum-like flight, swinging back and forth in front of a perched female while spreading their tail and exposing the white ear tufts. Females alone build a small cup-shaped nest of plant down and spider webs, often placed on a drooping branch over water. After laying two white eggs, the female incubates them for about 15–16 days and feeds the chicks regurgitated nectar and small insects; the male provides no parental care.

Diet

The Black-eared Fairy (Heliothryx auritus) is a specialized nectarivore, feeding primarily on the nectar of long-tubed, pendant flowers, which it accesses with its long, decurved bill and extendable, brush-tipped tongue. An interesting fact about its diet is that it exhibits "trap-lining" behavior, visiting a specific, repeated circuit of isolated flowers rather than defending a single rich patch like many other hummingbirds. Additionally, it supplements its high-energy nectar intake with small arthropods, such as spiders and insects, which it gleans from leaves and bark or catches in mid-air during short sallies, providing essential protein for growth and reproduction.

Colors

The Black-eared Fairy is a hummingbird with a striking contrast: its upperparts are a brilliant iridescent emerald green, while the underparts are pure white. It gets its name from a bold, glossy black patch covering the ear and eye area, which sharply offsets a white supercilium and throat. The long, forked tail is white-tipped, and the male has a small violet-blue spot on the crown. This coloration provides camouflage in dappled forest light, with the white belly blending against bright sky gaps and the green back merging with foliage.

Distribution Map

Places linked to this species. A sighting is never guaranteed.