Western Emerald vs Sword-billed Hummingbird
Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus compared with Ensifera ensifera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Western Emerald | Sword-billed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus | Ensifera ensifera |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 2.675 g (0.09 oz) | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of western Colombian and Ecuadorian forest. Supplements diet with small arthropods caught near blossoms. | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Western Emerald
Melodic, ascending phrase with hopeful character; smooth pure tones rising in clear musical progression at dawn.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Geographic Range & Migration
Western Emerald
Found from Panama to Peru along the western Andean foothills. Resident in forest edges and gardens at low to mid elevations.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,700–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Western Emerald
Sword-billed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Western Emerald
White-chested Emerald: males with iridescent green gorget; metallic green above; white chest; females green above; spotted white below
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Olivaceous Thornbill: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic olive-bronze above; white underparts; females green above; spots
About These Birds
Western Emerald
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found from Panama to Peru in western Andean foothills. Bright emerald-green plumage with dark tail. Nectarivore of forest edges and gardens. Closely related to other Chlorostilbon emeralds. A Chocó and western Andean species.
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.