Rainbow-bearded Thornbill vs Great Sapphirewing
Chalcostigma herrani compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rainbow-bearded Thornbill | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chalcostigma herrani | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.5 cm (5.3 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 6.183333333333334 g (0.22 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan montane scrub; visits diverse small flowers. Supplements with small 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
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
Thin, reedy trill with wavering quality; soft rapid notes with gentle tremolo effect, given from dense cover.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
Found in high Andean páramo and shrubby forest edge from Colombia south to Ecuador and Peru. 2,600–4,400 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
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean páramo from Colombia to Ecuador at 2,800-4,000 m. Males have a spectacular rainbow-colored beard of iridescent feathers ranging from green through gold to purple. Nectarivore of páramo flowering shrubs.
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.