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

[4] 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.

The clades were placed in separate tribes which were named Lampornithini (mountain gems), Mellisugini (bees), and Trochilini (emeralds).

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

[10] Florisuginae – topazes Phaethornithinae – hermits Polytminae – mangoes Heliantheini – brilliants Lesbiini – coquettes Patagoninae – giant hummingbird Lampornithini – mountain gems Mellisugini – bees Trochilini – emeralds The cladogram below shows the relationships between the genera in the tribe Lampornithini.