Beautiful Hummingbird vs Great Sapphirewing
Calothorax pulcher compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Beautiful Hummingbird | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calothorax pulcher | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 7.4 cm (2.9 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 2.6575 g (0.09 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from dry-forest flowers in Oaxaca, hovering at low scrub blooms. Catches gnats … | 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
Beautiful Hummingbird
Soft, pure whistle with plaintive character; gentle wavering tone fading gently in dense cloud forest shade.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Beautiful Hummingbird
Endemic to southwestern Mexico in Guerrero and Oaxaca. Resident in dry forest and thorn scrub at 600-2,000 m elevation.
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
Beautiful Hummingbird
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Beautiful Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to southwestern Mexico in Guerrero and Oaxaca. Males have a magenta gorget similar to Lucifer Hummingbird. Long, decurved bill. Nectarivore of dry forest and thorn scrub. A Mexican endemic with restricted range.
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.