Horned sungem facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Horned sungem |
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| print by Ernst Haeckel | |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Subfamily: | Polytminae |
| Genus: | Heliactin F. Boie, 1831 |
| Species: |
H. bilophus
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| Binomial name | |
| Heliactin bilophus (Temminck, 1820)
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The horned sungem (Heliactin bilophus) is a type of hummingbird that lives in South America. It's famous for the bright, colorful feather tufts on its head. These look like little horns! This amazing bird can be found in countries like Bolivia, Brazil, and Suriname. It's a very special bird because it's the only species in its group.
Contents
What Does a Horned Sungem Look Like?
The horned sungem is a small bird. It is about 9.5 to 11 centimeters (3.7 to 4.3 inches) long. It weighs only 1.8 to 2.8 grams (0.06 to 0.1 ounces). That's super light!
The male horned sungem is very flashy. It has bright red, blue, and gold feathers above its eyes. These are the "horns" it's named after. Its head is a shiny dark blue. Its back is a pretty bronzy green color. The two middle tail feathers are green. The other tail feathers are white. The two inner pairs are very long. The male's throat, upper chest, and most of its face are black. Its neck and belly are white.
Female horned sungems are not as colorful. They do not have the bright "horns." They also don't have the black throat, chest, or face like the males.
Where Do Horned Sungems Live?
Horned sungems live in many parts of central Brazil. You can find them from southern Maranhão down to São Paulo (state). They also live west into Mato Grosso and Bolivia's Santa Cruz area.
They are also found in a small part of southern Suriname. Another small group lives in the northern Brazilian state of Amapá. Sometimes, they are seen outside these areas in far western Brazil.
These hummingbirds like different kinds of open or partly open places. They live in gallery forest (forests along rivers), woodlands, and grasslands. They also like a type of savanna called cerrado. You can even spot them in gardens! They usually live below 500 meters (1,600 feet) in height. But they can be found as high as 1,000 meters (3,300 feet).
Horned Sungem Behavior
How They Move Around
Some horned sungems move from place to place. This happens in parts of central and eastern Brazil. They travel when certain plants start to flower. This is because they need the nectar from these flowers. In the southern parts of their home, they seem to stay in one place.
What They Eat
Horned sungems mostly eat nectar from flowers. They get nectar from many different flowering bushes and trees. They look for food up to the middle height of their habitat. They also eat small insects. They catch insects by flying out from a perch. Sometimes they pick insects directly from plants.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The breeding season for horned sungems is usually from June to October. In some areas, it can start as early as April. Only the female builds the nest. She also sits on the eggs and takes care of the baby birds.
The nest is very tiny and shaped like a cup. It's made of soft materials and spider webs. The outside is decorated with lichen. The female puts the nest on a forked branch of a bush. It's usually about 1 meter (3 feet) above the ground. Sometimes it's higher.
A female horned sungem usually lays two eggs. The eggs hatch after about 13 days. The young birds are ready to leave the nest 20 to 22 days after hatching.
What Sounds They Make
When horned sungems chase each other, they make a "complex twittering" sound. It has squeaky, buzzy, and burry notes. Their calls often sound like a repeated "tsit" or "tseet."
Horned Sungem Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the horned sungem. They say it is a species of "Least Concern." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing. We don't know exactly how many horned sungems there are. But experts believe their numbers are growing.
These birds are common in some areas. They live in several protected natural places. They also use places made by humans, like gardens. It seems they are even spreading to new areas.
See also
In Spanish: Colibrí cuernos de oro para niños
 | Sharif Bey |
 | Hale Woodruff |
 | Richmond Barthé |
 | Purvis Young |
