[2][3] A molecular phylogenetic study of the hummingbirds published in 2007 found that the family was composed of nine major clades.

The tribe Heliantheini had been introduced (as a subfamily Heliantheinae) by the German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach in 1854.

[5][6] Molecular phylogenetic studies by Jimmy McGuire and collaborators published between 2007 and 2014 determined the relationships between the major groups of hummingbirds.

[9] Florisuginae – topazes Phaethornithinae – hermits Polytminae – mangos Heliantheini – brilliants Lesbiini – coquettes Patagoninae – giant hummingbird Lampornithini – mountain gems Mellisugini – bees Trochilini – emeralds The phylogeny of the Heliantheini based on a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 is shown below.

[2] Haplophaedia Eriocnemis and Loddigesia Lafresnaya Aglaeactis Coeligena Urochroa Heliodoxa Pterophanes – great sapphirewing Ensifera – sword-billed hummingbird Boissonneaua Urosticte Ocreatus The tribe contains 14 genera.