Violet Sabrewing vs Great Sapphirewing
Campylopterus hemileucurus compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Violet Sabrewing | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Campylopterus hemileucurus | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.1 cm (5.9 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 11.025 g (0.39 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Large sabrewing; feeds on nectar from Heliconia and bromeliads in humid forest. Supplements with insects … | 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
Violet Sabrewing
Deep, resonant trill with powerful bass quality; low-frequency churring vibrating through dense forest canopy.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Violet Sabrewing
Found in humid montane forests from southern Mexico to Panama at 500-2,500 m. Resident in cloud forest undergrowth.
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
Violet Sabrewing
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Violet Sabrewing
A large hummingbird (14-15 cm), the largest hummingbird in Central America. Males have brilliant violet-purple plumage with white outer tail feathers. Found in humid montane forests from Mexico to Panama. Nectarivore of cloud forest undergrowth, visiting Heliconia and banana flowers.
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.