Xantus's Hummingbird vs Sword-billed Hummingbird
Basilinna xantusii compared with Ensifera ensifera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Xantus's Hummingbird | Sword-billed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Basilinna xantusii | Ensifera ensifera |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 10.2 cm (4.0 in) | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 3.525 g (0.12 oz) | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Endemic to Baja California; feeds on nectar from desert blooms and supplements with small insects … | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Xantus's Hummingbird only
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Song & Call Comparison
Xantus's Hummingbird
High, crystalline twittering with bright silvery quality; rapid light notes cascading freely in aerial display.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Geographic Range & Migration
Xantus's Hummingbird
Endemic to the cape region of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Resident in dry scrub and thorn 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
Xantus's Hummingbird
Sword-billed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Xantus's Hummingbird
Great Blue Turaco: large; brilliant turquoise-blue body; yellow-red bill; red-tipped yellow crest; black-tipped blue tail; unique
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Olivaceous Thornbill: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic olive-bronze above; white underparts; females green above; spots
About These Birds
Xantus's Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to the cape region of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Green plumage with a rufous-chestnut breast and white eye-stripe. Nectarivore of dry scrub and thorn forest. A Baja California endemic named after Hungarian naturalist John Xantus.
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.