Short-tailed Emerald vs Great Sapphirewing
Chlorostilbon poortmani compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Short-tailed Emerald | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlorostilbon poortmani | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.2 cm (3.2 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.5 g (0.12 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from scrub and forest-edge flowers in Colombia and Venezuela. Supplements with small … | 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
Short-tailed Emerald
Thin, reedy chip note with soft delivery; barely audible single staccato sound 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
Short-tailed Emerald
Found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Venezuela at 1,500-2,800 m elevation. Resident in montane forest.
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
Short-tailed Emerald
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Short-tailed Emerald
A small hummingbird (7-8 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Venezuela at 1,500-2,800 m. Green plumage with a notably short tail. Nectarivore of montane forest undergrowth and edges. Named for its unusually short tail for an emerald.
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.