Heliothryx
Genus of birds
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The genus Heliothryx was introduced in 1831 by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie. Boie did not specify the type species but this was designated as the black-eared fairy by George Robert Gray in 1840. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek hēlios meaning "sun" with thrix meaning "hair".
The genus contains the following two species:
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Physical Description and Habitat
Heliothryx hummingbirds are vibrant, medium-sized birds of tropical lowlands, favoring forest edges, clearings, and gardens. They have emerald-green upperparts, snow-white underparts, and white tail feathers, with sharp black bills perfectly designed to extract nectar. Males have a purple crown, absent in females, who have longer tails.