Horned Sungem

Common name: Horned Sungem
Scientific name: Heliactin bilophus
Clades: Polytminae - Mangos

The Horned Sungem is a unique and beautiful hummingbird. The males have a dark blue crown, a black throat and chest, and small red, blue, and gold 'horns'. They also have long tail feathers. The females are mainly green with white underparts and long tail feathers.

The Horned Sungem is found in specific areas north of the Amazon, in southern Suriname, and in the savannas of Amapá in northeast Brazil. It is also found across the Brazilian interior to eastern Bolivia, although habitat destruction is becoming a problem. It prefers native vegetation and can be found up to 1000 meters in elevation.
This hummingbird sometimes moves to different areas based on when flowers bloom. However, in other parts of its range, the populations stay in one place.

Distribution Extreme S Suriname through CN, E & C Brazil (Amapá; S Maranhão to Alagoas and Bahia S to São Paulo and W to W Mato Grosso, irregularly to Rondônia) to E Bolivia (Santa Cruz). Reported also from Acre (extreme W Brazil) and S Amazonas (WC Brazil).