Buff-bellied Hummingbird vs Sword-billed Hummingbird
Amazilia yucatanensis compared with Ensifera ensifera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Buff-bellied Hummingbird | Sword-billed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amazilia yucatanensis | Ensifera ensifera |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 4.175 g (0.15 oz) | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from Yucatán flowering trees and garden plants; supplements with insects and spiders … | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Buff-bellied Hummingbird only
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Song & Call Comparison
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy silvery quality; high light notes cascading softly near flowers.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Geographic Range & Migration
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Found from southern Texas through eastern Mexico to Belize and Guatemala. Resident in Gulf Coast lowlands.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,700–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Sword-billed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Steere's Coucal: dark brown above with iridescent gloss; rufous wings; pale below; long dark tail; red eye; Philippine island species
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Olivaceous Thornbill: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic olive-bronze above; white underparts; females green above; spots
About These Birds
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found from southern Texas through eastern Mexico to Belize and Guatemala. Green upperparts, buff-orange belly, and red bill with dark tip. Nectarivore of gardens, citrus groves, and forest edges. Common at Texas Gulf Coast feeders.
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.