White-eared Hummingbird vs Sword-billed Hummingbird
Basilinna leucotis compared with Ensifera ensifera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-eared Hummingbird | Sword-billed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Basilinna leucotis | Ensifera ensifera |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 10.9 cm (4.3 in) | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 3.4000000000000004 g (0.12 oz) | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Guatemalan pine-oak forests, visiting flowering epiphytes. 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
White-eared Hummingbird only
None
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Song & Call Comparison
White-eared Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring with powerful carrying quality; rich low buzzing trill audible at impressive range.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-eared Hummingbird
Found in mountain forests from the southwestern United States to Nicaragua at 1,500-3,000 m. Resident in pine-oak forest.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,700–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
White-eared Hummingbird
Sword-billed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
White-eared Hummingbird
Blue-throated Goldentail: males with brilliant blue-green gorget; metallic green above; golden tail; females green above; spotted
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Olivaceous Thornbill: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic olive-bronze above; white underparts; females green above; spots
About These Birds
White-eared Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in mountain forests from the southwestern US to Nicaragua at 1,500-3,000 m. Green plumage with bold white ear stripe and turquoise throat (males). Nectarivore of pine-oak and cloud forest. Common at highland 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.