Trochilini
A tribe of hummingbirds known as emeralds.
Trochilini is one of three tribes within the hummingbird subfamily Trochilinae, alongside Lampornithini (mountain gems) and Mellisugini (bees). The group has been informally called "emeralds," and several of its genera—such as *Chlorostilbon*, which includes ten species—have "emerald" in their common names. The tribe comprises 114 species across 36 genera.
The tribe's current classification stems from a 2007 molecular phylogenetic study that identified nine major clades among hummingbirds. In 2013, Edward Dickinson and James Van Remsen, Jr. used these results to reorganize the Howard and Moore checklist, placing three of those clades into Trochilinae and naming them as separate tribes: Trochilini (emeralds), Lampornithini, and Mellisugini. The modern circumscription of Trochilini was formally introduced in 2009.
Further molecular work by Jimmy McGuire and colleagues between 2007 and 2014 clarified relationships among hummingbird groups. A 2014 study by McGuire prompted a major revision of Trochilini, as many traditional genera were found to be polyphyletic. The resulting reclassification introduced one new genus (*Elliotomyia*), resurrected eleven others (*Phaeoptila*, *Riccordia*, *Pampa*, *Thaumasius*, *Talaphorus*, *Leucolia*—later renamed *Ramosomyia*—*Saucerottia*, *Amazilis*, *Uranomitra*, *Chionomesa*, and *Polyerata*), and synonymized six former genera (*Aphantochroa*, *Cyanophaia*, *Elvira*, *Goethalsia*, *Juliamyia*, and *Lepidopyga*). Species counts for each genus follow the 2025 AviList taxonomy.
- taxonomic_rank
- Tribe
- family
- Trochilidae
- subfamily
- Trochilinae
- species_count
- 114
- genera_count
- 36
- informal_name
- Emeralds
- other_tribes_in_subfamily
- Lampornithini (mountain gems), Mellisugini (bees)
Lore & Background
The tribe Trochilini was introduced in 2009 with its current circumscription. A molecular phylogenetic study of hummingbirds published in 2007 found that the species formed nine major clades. 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, they based their classification on these results and placed three of the nine clades in the subfamily Trochilinae, naming them Trochilini (emeralds), Lampornithini (mountain gems), and Mellisugini (bees).
Reader's Guide
The 2014 study by Jimmy McGuire and collaborators led to a major revision of the classification of Trochilini. Many traditional genera were found to be polyphyletic, resulting in substantial revision. Only one new genus was introduced (Elliotomyia), but eleven genera were resurrected: Phaeoptila, Riccordia, Pampa, Thaumasius, Talaphorus, Leucolia (later renamed Ramosomyia), Saucerottia, Amazilis, Uranomitra, Chionomesa, and Polyerata. At the same time, six former genera were synonymized: Aphantochroa, Cyanophaia, Elvira, Goethalsia, Juliamyia, and Lepidopyga. The number of species in each genus is taken from the AviList taxonomy published in 2025. The tribe's significance lies in its large species diversity and the taxonomic revisions that clarified evolutionary relationships within hummingbirds.
Did You Know?
- Trochilini is one of three tribes in the subfamily Trochilinae.
- The informal name 'emeralds' has been proposed for this group.
- The tribe contains 114 species divided into 36 genera.
- The 2014 study led to the resurrection of eleven genera and synonymization of six.
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