Blue-mantled Thornbill vs Great Sapphirewing
Chalcostigma stanleyi compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blue-mantled Thornbill | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chalcostigma stanleyi | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.2 cm (5.2 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.2749999999999995 g (0.19 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Andean treeline scrub; visits Ericaceae and Brachyotum blooms. Supplements with small arthropods. | 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
Blue-mantled Thornbill
Crisp, whistled notes in ascending sequence; clean bright tones stepping up smoothly in cheerful morning delivery.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Blue-mantled Thornbill
Found in high Andean páramo from Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia. 3,000–4,500 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
Blue-mantled Thornbill
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Blue-mantled Thornbill
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean páramo from Colombia to Bolivia at 3,500-4,800 m. Males have a blue-violet mantle and short bill. Nectarivore of high-altitude Chuquiraga and Puya flowers. Enters torpor nightly. One of the highest-living hummingbirds.
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.