Velvet-purple Coronet vs Great Sapphirewing
Boissonneaua jardini compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Velvet-purple Coronet | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Boissonneaua jardini | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 9.4 g (0.33 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian Pacific slope cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and Heliconia. Supplements with small arthropods. | 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
Velvet-purple Coronet
Harsh, grating screech with urgent tone; sudden loud rough call given sharply during aerial chase encounter.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Velvet-purple Coronet
Found on the Pacific slope of the Andes in Colombia and northwestern Ecuador in cloud forest. 500–1,800 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
Velvet-purple Coronet
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Velvet-purple Coronet
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in cloud forests of western Colombia and Ecuador at 1,200-2,400 m. Males have dark velvety-purple plumage with green iridescence. Nectarivore of Chocó cloud forest. A striking, dark-plumaged hummingbird.
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.