Olivaceous Thornbill vs Sword-billed Hummingbird
Chalcostigma olivaceum compared with Ensifera ensifera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Olivaceous Thornbill | Sword-billed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chalcostigma olivaceum | Ensifera ensifera |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 16.3 cm (6.4 in) | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 7.3999999999999995 g (0.26 oz) | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of high Bolivian and Peruvian páramo; short bill accesses small open flowers. Gleans insects … | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Olivaceous Thornbill only
None
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Olivaceous Thornbill
Buzzy, high-frequency trill with insect-like quality; sustained continuous vibration with rapid amplitude modulation.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Geographic Range & Migration
Olivaceous Thornbill
Widespread in high Andean puna grassland from Peru to Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. 3,200–4,800 m.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,700–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Olivaceous Thornbill
Sword-billed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Olivaceous Thornbill
Blue-tufted Starthroat: males with iridescent blue-green gorget; metallic green above; white pectoral tufts; females green above; spots
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Olivaceous Thornbill: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic olive-bronze above; white underparts; females green above; spots
About These Birds
Olivaceous Thornbill
A small hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in Andean puna and páramo from Peru to Bolivia at 3,500-4,800 m. Olive-green plumage with subtle throat iridescence. Nectarivore of high-altitude flowering plants. One of the drabbest thornbills. Tolerates extreme cold.
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.