Bird Guide

Purple-crowned Fairy

Heliothryx barroti

Least ConcernNectarForestCup nestTiny · 6 g

About the Purple-crowned Fairy

The purple-crowned fairy is a species of hummingbird in the subfamily Polytminae, the mangoes. It is found from southeastern Mexico south into northern Peru.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The purple-crowned fairy is 9 to 13 cm (3.5 to 5.1 in) long and weighs about 5.5 g (0.19 oz). It is slender and has bright emerald green upperparts, pure white underparts, and a long pointed tail which has blue-black central and white outer feathers. It has a black patch through the eye and the bill is short, straight, and black. The male has a metallic violet forecrown; the eye patch has a metallic violet spot behind it and bright emerald green below it. The female has a green crown and the face has less black, no violet spot, and no green below the black. Voice: The purple-crowned fairly is not highly vocal. It does make a call that has been described as "a high, thin, slightly metallic sssit, which may be run into longer rapid series."

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Purple-crowned Fairy lives

Regular range

When to see the Purple-crowned Fairy

Peak activity in March · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

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