Emerald-chinned Hummingbird vs Sword-billed Hummingbird
Abeillia abeillei compared with Ensifera ensifera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Emerald-chinned Hummingbird | Sword-billed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Abeillia abeillei | Ensifera ensifera |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 9.4 cm (3.7 in) | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 3.0666666666666664 g (0.11 oz) | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Central American forest understory, visiting small tubular flowers. Catches gnats and spiders to … | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Emerald-chinned Hummingbird only
None
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Song & Call Comparison
Emerald-chinned Hummingbird
Rapid, light chips in cheerful sequence; bright staccato notes with buoyant delivery during active foraging.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Geographic Range & Migration
Emerald-chinned Hummingbird
Found in humid foothill and montane forests from Mexico to Honduras at 600-2,200 m. Resident in forest undergrowth.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,700–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Emerald-chinned Hummingbird
Sword-billed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Emerald-chinned Hummingbird
Western Grey Plantain-eater: gray overall with faint barring; white facial stripe; long tail; short crest; yellowish bill
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Olivaceous Thornbill: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic olive-bronze above; white underparts; females green above; spots
About These Birds
Emerald-chinned Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in humid foothill and montane forests from Mexico to Honduras at 600-2,200 m. Green plumage with a small emerald-green chin patch. Short bill. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth and edges.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
A remarkable hummingbird (14-15 cm body) with a bill as long as its body (8-10 cm), the longest bill relative to body size of any bird. Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Bolivia at 1,700-3,500 m. The extraordinarily long bill evolved to feed on deep tubular Passiflora flowers.