Glittering-throated Emerald vs Sword-billed Hummingbird
Chionomesa fimbriata compared with Ensifera ensifera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Glittering-throated Emerald | Sword-billed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chionomesa fimbriata | Ensifera ensifera |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 4.766666666666667 g (0.17 oz) | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Glittering-throated Emerald only
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Song & Call Comparison
Glittering-throated Emerald
Buzzy, high-pitched insect-like trill; sustained rapid vibration with minimal melodic content near blossoms.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Geographic Range & Migration
Glittering-throated Emerald
Widely distributed from Colombia through Amazonia to Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina. Resident in varied habitats.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,700–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Glittering-throated Emerald
Sword-billed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Glittering-throated Emerald
Green Coucal: greenish iridescent overall; rufous wings; pale buff below; long graduated tail; red eye; greenish gloss distinctive
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Olivaceous Thornbill: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic olive-bronze above; white underparts; females green above; spots
About These Birds
Glittering-throated Emerald
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) widely distributed from Colombia through Amazonia to Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina. Glittering green throat with white fringes creating a spangled effect. Nectarivore of forest edges, gardens, and open habitats.
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.