Belongs within: Trochilidae.
Contains: Trochilus, Anthracothorax, Lampornis, Selasphorus, Chlorostilbon, Amazilia, Thalurania, Coeligena, Eriocnemis, Lophornis, Heliangelus.
The Trochilinae are a diverse group of straight-billed, often brightly coloured hummingbirds.
White tips and shining bibs
Published 26 May 2025
Hummingbirds are among the most remarkable of all bird families, including as they do over 350 species of small, energetic, often spectacularly coloured iridescent jewels. So kaleidoscopic is the variety of hummingbirds that it is difficult to know where to start, so let’s just land somewhere at random. So on that note: take a look at these whitetips.
The whitetips of the genus Urosticte are two species of hummingbird found along the lower slopes and foothills of the northern Andes, between Colombia and Peru. They are relatively little seen but whether this is a true reflection of their abundance or rather their choice of habitat seems to be somewhat uncertain, as they keep to the midlevels and subcanopy of dense forest (Stiles et al. 2006). Both species of the genus are small, less than ten centimetres in length and weighing three or four grams, and predominantly iridescent green. Males have green underparts partially mottled with white; females have white underparts spotted with green. A patch of squamate feathers on the throat forms a distinct bib in males. Males also have broad white tips on the central pair of tail feathers forming a prominent spot; this provides not only the vernacular name but also the genus name which may be translated as ‘white-spotted’.
The two species in the genus are the purple-bibbed whitetip U. benjamini and rufous-vented whitetip U. ruficrissa. The species are most readily distinguished by the colour of the bib in males, being purple in U. benjamini but green in U. ruficrissa. They are also geographically distinct: U. benjamini is found on the western slopes of the Andes whereas U. ruficrissa occupies the eastern slopes. Urosticte benjamini is also more northerly in distribution than U. ruficrissa though both are found in northern Ecuador. A third potential species U. intermedia that was supposed to be intermediate between the other two (having a partially purple bib less developed than that of U. benjamini) was regarded by Stiles et al. (2006) as based on aberrant individuals of U. ruficrissa.
Relationship-wise, molecular data confirm that Urosticte falls within the clade of hummingbirds dubbed ‘brilliants’ by McGuire et al. (2009). Molecular data also indicate a close relationship to the genus Ocreatus, the racket-tails. This relationship had previously been suggested on the basis of similarities in mating displays and plumage. The Andes have evidently played a major role in hummingbird diversification, and the whitetips fall squarely within that Andean radiation.
Systematics of Trochilinae
<==TrochilinaeB94
|--+--+--Doryfera Gould 1847BKB15, B94 [incl. Hemistephania Reichenbach 1854B94; Doryferinae, Hemistephaniinae]
| | | |--D. johannaeBKB15
| | | `--D. ludovicaeBKB15
| | `--+--Schistes Gould 1851BKB15, B94 [Schistinae]
| | | `--S. geoffroyiBKB15
| | `--Colibri Spix 1824BKB15, B94 [incl. Petasophora Gray 1840B94; Petasophorinae]
| | |--C. serrirostrisBKB15
| | `--+--C. thalassinusBKB15
| | `--+--C. coruscansBKB15
| | `--C. delphinaeBKB15
| `--+--+--Androdon aequatorialisBKB15
| | `--+--Heliactin bilophusBKB15
| | `--+--Heliactin cornutaBKB15
| | `--Heliothryx Boie 1831BKB15, B94 [=Heliotrix (l. c.)B94; Heliothrichinae, Heliotrichinae, Heliotriinae]
| | |--H. auritusBKB15
| | `--H. barrotiBKB15
| `--+--Polytmus Brisson 1760BKB15, B94 [incl. Thaumatias Bonaparte 1850B94; Polytminae, Thaumatiinae]
| | |--P. guainumbiBKB15
| | |--P. milleriJT12
| | `--P. theresiaeBKB15
| `--+--Avocettula Reichenbach 1849BKB15, B94 [Avocettulinae]
| | `--A. recurvirostrisBKB15
| `--+--AnthracothoraxBKB15
| `--Chrysolampis Boie 1831BKB15, B94
| `--C. mosquitusBKB15
`--+--+--+--+--Lamprolaima rhamiBKB15
| | | `--+--LampornisBKB15
| | | `--+--+--Panterpe insignisBKB15
| | | | `--Eugenes Gould 1856BKB15, B94 [Eugeninae]
| | | | `--E. fulgensBKB15
| | | `--Heliomaster Bonaparte 1850BKB15, B94 (see below for synonymy)
| | | |--H. furciferBKB15
| | | |--H. longirostrisBKB15
| | | `--H. squamosusBKB15
| | `--+--CalothoraxBKB15
| | | |--C. luciferJT12
| | | `--C. pulcherBKB15
| | `--+--+--Archilochus Reichenbach 1854BKB15, B94 [Archilochinae]
| | | | |--A. alexandriBKB15
| | | | `--A. colubrisBKB15
| | | `--+--SelasphorusBKB15
| | | `--Calypte Gould 1856BKB15, B94 [incl. Zephyritis Mulsant & Verreaux 1865B94; Calyptinae, Zephyritinae]
| | | |--C. annaBKB15
| | | `--C. costaeBKB15
| | `--+--‘Calliphlox’ amethystinaBKB15
| | `--+--Myrtis fannyBKB15
| | `--+--Rhodopis vesperBKB15
| | `--+--+--Myrmia micruraBKB15
| | | `--Thaumastura coraBKB15
| | `--+--Calliphlox Boie 1831BKB15, B94 [Calliphloxinae]
| | | |--C. bryantaeBKB15
| | | |--C. evelynaeJT12
| | | `--C. mitchelliiBKB15
| | `--+--Microstilbon burmeisteriBKB15
| | `--ChaetocercusBKB15
| | |--C. astreansJT12
| | |--C. berlepschiJT12
| | |--C. bombusBKB15
| | |--C. heliodorJT12
| | |--C. jourdaniiJT12
| | `--C. mulsantBKB15
| `--+--Patagona Gray 1840BKB15, B94 [incl. Hypermetra Cabanis & Heine 1860B94; Hypermetrinae, Patagoninae]
| | `--P. gigasBKB15
| | |--P. g. gigasRN72
| | `--P. g. peruvianaRN72
| `--+--+--+--‘Chlorostilbon’ maugaeusBKB15
| | | `--Cyanophaia Reichenbach 1854BKB15, B94 [incl. Ornismya Lesson 1828B94; Ornysmyinae]
| | | |--C. bicolorBKB15
| | | |--‘Ornismya’ petasphoraH04
| | | `--‘Ornismya’ vestita [incl. Trochilus uropygialis Fraser 1840]L43
| | `--+--+--‘Hylocharis’ leucotisBKB15
| | | `--‘Hylocharis’ xantusiiBKB15
| | `--+--‘Cynanthus’ sordidusJT12
| | `--+--ChlorostilbonBKB15
| | `--Cynanthus Swainson 1827JT12, B94 (see below for synonymy)
| | `--C. latirostrisJT12 (see below for synonymy)
| `--+--+--+--‘Campylopterus’ curvipennisBKB15
| | | `--‘Campylopterus’ rufusBKB15
| | `--+--+--Klais Reichenbach 1844BKB15, B94 [Klaiinae]
| | | | `--K. guimetiBKB15
| | | `--+--Orthorhynchus Lacépède 1799BKB15, B94 (see below for synonymy)
| | | | `--O. cristatusBKB15
| | | `--+--Anthocephala floricepsBKB15
| | | `--Stephanoxis Simon 1897BKB15, B94 [incl. Cephalolepis Loddiges 1831B94; Cephalolepinae]
| | | `--S. lalandiBKB15
| | `--Campylopterus Swainson 1827BKB15, B94 [Campylopterinae]
| | | i. s.: C. duidaeJT12
| | | C. ensipennisJT12
| | | C. excellensJT12
| | | C. phainopeplusJT12
| | |--C. hemileucurusBKB15
| | `--+--C. largipennisBKB15
| | `--+--C. hyperythrusBKB15
| | `--+--C. falcatusBKB15
| | `--C. villaviscensioBKB15
| `--+--+--Phaeochroa Gould 1861BKB15, B94 [Phaeochroinae]
| | | `--P. cuvieriiBKB15
| | `--+--AmaziliaBKB15
| | `--+--LeucippusBKB15
| | | |--L. baeriBKB15
| | | |--L. chionogaster [=Trochilus chionogaster]SS66
| | | |--L. fallaxJT12
| | | `--L. taczanowskiiJT12
| | `--+--Taphrospilus hypostictusBKB15
| | `--+--Aphantochroa cirrochlorisBKB15
| | `--Eupetomena Gould 1853BKB15, B94 [Eupetomeninae]
| | `--E. macrouraBKB15
| `--+--+--Eupherusa Gould 1857BKB15, B94 [Eupherusinae]
| | | |--E. cyanophrysJT12
| | | |--E. eximiaBKB15
| | | |--E. nigriventrisBKB15
| | | `--E. poliocercaJT12
| | `--+--Microchera Gould 1858BKB15, B94 [Microcherinae]
| | | `--M. albocoronataBKB15
| | `--ElviraBKB15
| | |--E. chionuraBKB15
| | `--E. cupreicepsBKB15
| `--+--Chalybura Reichenbach 1854BKB15, B94 [Chalyburinae]
| | |--C. buffoniiBKB15
| | | |--C. b. buffoniiE52
| | | `--C. b. micansE52
| | `--C. urochrysiaBKB15
| `--ThaluraniaBKB15
`--+--+--+--Aglaeactis Gould 1848BKB15, B94 [Aglaeactinae]
| | | | i. s.: A. aliciaeJT12
| | | |--A. cupripennisBKB15
| | | `--+--A. castelnaudiiBKB15
| | | `--A. pamelaBKB15
| | `--Lafresnaya Bonaparte 1850BKB15, B94 [incl. Euclosia Mulsant & Verreaux 1865B94; Euclosiinae, Lafresnayinae]
| | `--L. lafresnayiBKB15
| | |--L. l. lafresnayiPP61
| | |--L. l. greenewalti Phelps & Phelps 1961PP61
| | |--L. l. liriopePP61
| | |--L. l. orestesPP61
| | |--L. l. rectirostrisPP61
| | `--L. l. saulPP61
| `--+--CoeligenaBKB15
| `--+--+--+--Pterophanes cyanopterusBKB15
| | | `--Ensifera Lesson 1843BKB15, B94 [incl. Docimastes Gould 1849B94; Docimastinae]
| | | `--E. ensiferaBKB15 [=Docimastes ensiferH04]
| | `--+--EriocnemisBKB15
| | `--HaplophaediaBKB15
| | |--H. assimilisJT12
| | |--H. aureliaeBKB15
| | `--H. lugensJT12
| `--+--+--BoissonneauaBKB15
| | | |--B. flavescensBKB15
| | | |--B. jardiniJT12
| | | `--B. matthewsiiBKB15
| | `--+--Ocreatus Gould 1846BKB15, B94 [incl. Spathura Gould 1849B94; Spathurinae]
| | | `--O. underwoodiiBKB15
| | `--Urosticte Gould 1853BKB15, B94 [Urostictinae]
| | |--U. benjaminiBKB15
| | `--U. ruficrissaBKB15
| `--+--Urochroa bougueriBKB15
| `--Heliodoxa Gould 1853BKB15, B94 [incl. Ionolaima Reichenbach 1854B94; Heliodoxinae, Ionolaeminae]
| |--+--H. xanthogonysBKB15
| | `--+--H. branickiiBKB15
| | `--H. gularisBKB15
| `--+--H. schreibersiiBKB15
| `--+--H. aurescensBKB15
| `--+--H. rubinoidesBKB15
| `--+--H. imperatrixBKB15
| `--+--H. jaculaBKB15
| `--H. leadbeateriBKB15
`--+--+--Sephanoides Gray 1840BKB15, B94 [incl. Eustephanus Reichenbach 1849B94; Eustephaninae]
| | |--S. fernandensis (King 1830)HRS06 [=Eustephanus fernandensisS66; incl. E. stokesiS66]
| | | |--S. f. fernandensisHRS06
| | | `--S. f. leyboldi Gould 1870HRS06
| | |--S. galeritusWM01
| | `--S. sephaniodes (Lesson & Garnot 1827)HRS06
| `--+--LophornisBKB15
| `--Discosura Bonaparte 1850BKB15, B94 [incl. Platurus Swainson 1837B94; Platurinae]
| | i. s.: D. letitiaeJT12
| |--D. longicaudusBKB15
| `--+--D. conversiiBKB15
| `--+--D. langsdorffiBKB15
| `--D. popelairiiBKB15
`--+--PhlogophilusBKB15
| |--P. hartertiJT12
| `--P. hemileucurusBKB15
`--+--HeliangelusBKB15
`--+--+--Adelomyia Bonaparte 1854BKB15, B94 [Adelomyiinae]
| | `--A. melanogenysBKB15
| `--+--Taphrolesbia griseiventrisBKB15
| `--AglaiocercusBKB15
| |--A. berlepschiJT12
| |--A. coelestisBKB15
| |--A. emmaeRN72
| `--A. kingiBKB15
| |--A. k. kingiRN72
| `--A. k. mocoaRN72
`--+--‘Oreotrochilus’ leucopleurusBKB15
`--+--Oreotrochilus Gould 1847BKB15, B94 [Oreotrochilinae]
| | i. s.: O. adelaJT12
| |--O. estellaBKB15
| `--+--O. chimborazoBKB15
| `--O. melanogasterBKB15
`--+--+--+--Polyonymus caroliBKB15
| | `--Opisthoprora Cabanis & Heine 1860BKB15, B94 (see below for synonymy)
| | `--O. eurypteraBKB15
| `--+--Sappho Reichebach 1949BKB15, B94 [Sapphinae]
| | `--S. sparganuraBKB15
| `--+--RamphomicronBKB15
| | |--R. dorsaleJT12
| | `--R. microrhynchumBKB15
| `--Lesbia Lesson 1833BKB15, B94 [Lesbiinae]
| |--L. nunaBKB15
| `--L. victoriaeBKB15
| |--L. v. victoriaeRN72
| `--L. v. eucharisRN72
`--+--Chalcostigma Reichenbach 1854BKB15, B94 [incl. Eupogonus Mulsant 1875B94; Eupogoninae]
| | i. s.: C. heteropogonJT12
| |--+--C. olivaceumBKB15
| | `--+--C. ruficepsBKB15
| | `--Oreonympha Gould 1869BKB15, B94 [Oreonymphinae]
| | `--O. nobilisBKB15
| `--+--C. stanleyiBKB15
| `--+--C. herraniBKB15
| `--Oxypogon Gould 1848BKB15, B94 [Oxypogoninae]
| `--O. gueriniiBKB15
`--Metallura Gould 1847BKB15, B94 [Metallurinae]
| i. s.: M. iracundaJT12
|--M. tyrianthinaBKB15
`--+--M. phoebeBKB15
`--+--M. aeneocaudaBKB15
`--+--+--M. eupogonBKB15
| `--M. theresiaeBKB15
`--+--M. williamiBKB15
`--+--M. baroniBKB15
`--M. odomaeBKB15
Trochilinae incertae sedis:
Philodice Mulsant & Verreaux 1866 [incl. Amathusia Mulsant & Verreaux 1865]B94
Doricha Reichenbach 1853 [incl. Amalusia Mulsant 1875; Amalusiinae, Dorichinae]B94
|--D. elizaJT12
`--D. enicuraJT12
Acestura Gould 1861 [Acesturinae]B94
`--A. mulsantGZ98
Goldmania Nelson 1911 [Goldmaniinae]B94
`--G. violicepsJT12
Augastes Gould 1849 [Augastinae]B94
|--A. lumachellaJT12
`--A. scutatusJT12
Eucephala caeruleaSS66
Clytolaema Gould 1853 [Clytolaeminae]B94
|--C. aurescensSS66
`--C. rubricauda (Boddaert 1783)U93
Mellisuga Brisson 1760 [Mellisuginae]B94
|--M. helenaeJT12 [=Calypte helenaeRN72]
`--M. minimaJT12
Loddigesia Bonaparte 1850 [incl. Loddigiornis Bonaparte 1850; Loddigornithinae]B94
`--L. mirabilisJT12
Popelairia Reichenbach 1854 [incl. Prymnacantha Cabanis & Heine 1860; Popelairiinae, Prymnacanthinae]B94
|--P. conversiiS18
| |--P. c. conversiiS18
| `--P. c. aequatorialisS18
`--P. popelairiiA61
ThaumantiasSS66
|--T. bartletti Gould in Sclater & Salvin 1866SS66
`--T. fluviatilisSS66
TrochilusJT12
Cynanthus Swainson 1827JT12, B94 [incl. Amizilis Gray 1840S18, Phaeoptila Gould 1861B94; Cynanthinae, Phaeoptilinae]
Cynanthus latirostrisJT12 [=Amazilis latirostrisS18; incl. Orthorhynchus amiziliS18, *Amizilis amiziliS18]
Heliomaster Bonaparte 1850BKB15, B94 [incl. Calliperidia Reichenbach 1854B94, Floricola Elliot 1879B94; Calliperidiinae, Floricolinae, Heliomasterinae]
Opisthoprora Cabanis & Heine 1860BKB15, B94 [incl. Avocettinus Bonaparte 1850B94; Avocettininae, Opisthoprorinae]
Orthorhynchus Lacépède 1799BKB15, B94 [incl. Bellona Mulsant 1875B94; Belloninae, Orthorhynchinae]
*Type species of generic name indicated
References
[A61] Austin, O. L., Jr. 1961. Birds of the World: A survey of the twenty-seven orders and one hundred and fifty-five families. Paul Hamlyn: London.
[B94] Bock, W. J. 1994. History and nomenclature of avian family-group names. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 222: 1–281.
[BKB15] Burleigh, J. G., R. T. Kimball & E. L. Braun. 2015. Building the avian tree of life using a large-scale, sparse supermatrix. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 84: 53–63.
[E52] Eisenmann, E. 1952. Annotated list of birds of Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal Zone. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 117 (5): 1–62.
[GZ98] Gerwin, J. A., & R. M. Zink. 1998. Phylogenetic patterns in the Trochilidae. Auk 115 (1): 105–118.
[H04] Haeckel, E. 1899–1904. Kunstformen der Natur. Bibliographisches Institut: Leipzig und Wien.
[HRS06] Hahn, I., U. Römer & R. P. Schlatter. 2006. Population numbers and status of land birds of the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile (Aves: Falconiformes, Columbiformes, Strigiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Passeriformes). Senckenbergiana Biologica 86 (1): 109–125.
[JT12] Jetz, W., G. H. Thomas, J. B. Joy, K. Hartmann & A. Ø. Mooers. 2012. The global diversity of birds in space and time. Nature 491: 444–448.
[L43] Loddiges, G. 1843. On some species of humming-birds. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 11: 122.
McGuire, J. A., C. C. Witt, J. V. Remsen, Jr, R. Dudley & D. L. Altshuler. 2009. A higher-level taxonomy for hummingbirds. Journal of Ornithology 150 (1): 155–165.
[PP61] Phelps, W. H., & W. H. Phelps Jr. 1961. Notes on Venezuelan birds and description of a new subspecies of Trochilidae. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 74: 3–6.
[RN72] Rutgers, A., & K. A. Norris (eds.) 1972. Encyclopaedia of Aviculture vol. 2. Blandford Press: London.
[S66] Sclater, P. L. 1866. Exhibition of some specimens of Eustephanus fernandensis and E. stokesi. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1866: 556–557.
[SS66] Sclater, P. L., & O. Salvin. 1866. Catalogue of birds collected by Mr. E. Bartlett on the River Uyacali, Eastern Peru, with notes and descriptions of new species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1866: 175–201.
Stiles, F. G., N. K. Krabbe & T. S. Schulenberg. 2006. Species limits in the genus Urosticte (Trochilidae). Ornitología Colombiana 4: 59–63.
[S18] Stone, W. 1918. Birds of the Panama Canal Zone, with special reference to a collection made by Mr. Lindsey L. Jewel. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 70: 239–280.
[U93] Unwin, D. M. 1993. Aves. In: Benton, M. J. (ed.) The Fossil Record 2 pp. 717–737. Chapman & Hall: London.
[WM01] Willson, M. F., J. L. Morrison, K. E. Sieving, T. L. de Santo, L. Santisteban & I. Díaz. 2001. Patterns of predation risk and survival of bird nests in a Chilean agricultural landscape. Conservation Biology 15 (2): 447–456.