Lesbiini
A tribe of hummingbirds known as coquettes.
Lesbiini is one of two tribes within the hummingbird subfamily Lesbiinae, the other being Heliantheini (the brilliants). The group is sometimes informally called "coquettes," a name drawn from its largest genus, *Lophornis*, which contains 11 species whose common names include "coquette." In total, the tribe comprises 67 species across 18 genera.
The tribe's classification stems from a 2007 molecular phylogenetic study that identified nine major clades in the hummingbird family. When Edward Dickinson and James Van Remsen, Jr. updated the *Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World* in 2013, they used these results to place two of those clades into a newly defined subfamily, Lesbiinae. Each clade became a separate tribe: Lesbiini and Heliantheini. The subfamily name Lesbiinae had originally been introduced by German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach in 1854.
Subsequent molecular work by Jimmy McGuire and colleagues, published between 2007 and 2014, clarified the relationships among the major hummingbird groups and, in 2014, the relationships between genera within Lesbiini.
- subfamily
- Lesbiinae
- family
- Trochilidae
- tribe
- Lesbiini
- number_of_species
- 67
- number_of_genera
- 18
- largest_genus
- Lophornis
- informal_name
- coquettes
Lore & Background
The tribe Lesbiini was established when Edward Dickinson and James Van Remsen, Jr. updated the Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World for the 4th edition in 2013. Their classification was based on a molecular phylogenetic study of hummingbirds published in 2007, which found that the family was composed of nine major clades. Two of these clades were placed in a new subfamily Lesbiinae, with each clade forming a separate tribe: Lesbiini and Heliantheini. The subfamily Lesbiinae had been introduced earlier by the German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach in 1854.
Reader's Guide
The Lesbiini tribe represents a significant division within the hummingbird family, comprising 67 species across 18 genera. Its informal designation as "coquettes" reflects the common names of many species in the largest genus, Lophornis. The tribe's recognition stems from molecular phylogenetic studies conducted between 2007 and 2014, which clarified the evolutionary relationships among hummingbird groups. These studies, by Jimmy McGuire and collaborators, determined the relationships between the major groups and also the relationships within Lesbiini itself. The tribe's placement within the subfamily Lesbiinae, alongside the Heliantheini (brilliants), highlights a fundamental split in hummingbird evolution. Understanding Lesbiini helps ornithologists trace the diversification of hummingbirds and their adaptation to various ecological niches.
Did You Know?
- Lesbiini is one of two tribes in the subfamily Lesbiinae, the other being Heliantheini.
- The informal name 'coquettes' has been proposed for this group because the largest genus, Lophornis, has 11 species with 'coquette' in their common name.
- The tribe contains 67 species divided into 18 genera.
- The subfamily Lesbiinae was introduced by German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach in 1854.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lesbiini?
Lesbiini is a tribe of hummingbirds placed within the subfamily Lesbiinae of the family Trochilidae. It sits alongside Heliantheini (the brilliants) as one of the two tribes recognized in that subfamily.
How many species and genera are in Lesbiini?
The tribe encompasses 67 species distributed across 18 genera. Its single largest genus is Lophornis, which alone holds 11 species.
Why do fans and field guides call Lesbiini 'coquettes'?
The nickname traces back to Lophornis, the tribe's biggest genus, whose 11 members all carry 'coquette' in their common names. The informal label stuck and now covers the entire tribe in casual usage.
How was Lesbiini established as a separate tribe?
A 2007 molecular phylogenetic analysis that identified nine major clades across the hummingbird family provided the genetic evidence to split Lesbiini out as its own tribal group. This framework was then adopted when Dickinson and Van Remsen, Jr. revised the Howard and Moore Complete Checklist.
What is Lesbiini's full taxonomic placement?
Lesbiini belongs to the subfamily Lesbiinae, which in turn sits inside the family Trochilidae (the hummingbirds). In shorthand, fans often reference it simply as 'tribe Lesbiini' or 'the coquettes' within the hummingbird family tree.
More in Bird tribes 1-24
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