Lucifer Hummingbird vs Sword-billed Hummingbird
Calothorax lucifer compared with Ensifera ensifera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lucifer Hummingbird | Sword-billed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calothorax lucifer | Ensifera ensifera |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 7.9 cm (3.1 in) | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 3.4000000000000004 g (0.12 oz) | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore specialising in agave and ocotillo blooms in Chihuahuan Desert. Supplements nectar 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
Song & Call Comparison
Lucifer Hummingbird
Buzzy, sustained trill with monotonous quality; low-pitched continuous vibration with little variation throughout.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lucifer Hummingbird
Found in arid habitats from the southwestern United States to Honduras. Breeds in desert canyons; winters in central Mexico.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,700–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Lucifer Hummingbird
Sword-billed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Lucifer Hummingbird
Dusky Hummingbird: males with iridescent violet gorget; metallic green above; dusky-gray underparts; 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
Lucifer Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in arid habitats from the southwestern United States to Honduras. Males have an iridescent magenta-purple gorget that extends down the throat like a flame. Long, decurved bill. Nectarivore of agave flowers and desert scrub.
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.