Fiery-tailed Awlbill vs Great Sapphirewing
Avocettula recurvirostris compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Fiery-tailed Awlbill | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Avocettula recurvirostris | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.2 cm (4.4 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 4.25 g (0.15 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore with upturned bill tip for accessing pendant Heliconia flowers. Supplements with small insects caught … | Nectarivore of high Andean cloud forest and treeline; one of the largest hummingbirds. Visits Ericaceae … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Fiery-tailed Awlbill
High, bright twittering cascade; light rapid notes tumbling freely in animated vocal sequence during display.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Fiery-tailed Awlbill
Found in humid forest edges and clearings from Trinidad and Venezuela east through the Guianas and Amazonian Brazil. 0–600 m.
Great Sapphirewing
Found in high Andean cloud forests and páramo from Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia. 2,400–3,800 m.
Conservation Status
Fiery-tailed Awlbill
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Fiery-tailed Awlbill
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) with a uniquely upcurved, awl-shaped bill. Green plumage with a fiery orange-red tail. Found in humid lowland forests from eastern Venezuela through the Guianas to Amazonia. Nectarivore and insectivore. The only member of its genus.
Great Sapphirewing
A large hummingbird (18 cm, wingspan 28 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Bolivia at 2,500-3,500 m. Brilliant sapphire-blue wings, green body, and long tail. One of the largest hummingbirds. Nectarivore of montane forest, visiting large-flowered Ericaceae.