Horned Sungem (Heliactin cornuta)

Horned Sungem (Heliactin bilophus)
(aka Heliactin cornuta)

Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil
July 2002

The Horned Sungem is found in central and eastern Brazil and adjoining Bolivia with a disjunct population in south Surinam and north Brazil.

It inhabits woodland, cerrado, grasslands and gallery forest where it feeds on the nectar of flowering bushes and trees as well as small insects.

Female Horned Sungem, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil, July 2002 - click for larger image

The male has spectacular crown tufts showing red, blue and gold, either side of its iridescent dark blue crown. Upperparts are bronzy-green, the throat and upper breast are black while the belly and sides of the neck are white. The tail is long and pointed and shows a dark V on white when seen in flight from below.

The female is similar but without the spectacular crown pattern or the black throat.

There is an illustration in HBW, Volume 5, Page 662.

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