Humboldt's Hummingbird vs Sword-billed Hummingbird
Chrysuronia humboldtii compared with Ensifera ensifera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Humboldt's Hummingbird | Sword-billed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysuronia humboldtii | Ensifera ensifera |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 6.275 g (0.22 oz) | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from Colombian and Venezuelan lowland flowers. Supplements with small arthropods caught near … | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Humboldt's Hummingbird only
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Song & Call Comparison
Humboldt's Hummingbird
Melodic, descending two-note whistle; pure warm tones stepping down smoothly, given repeatedly from territory perch.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Geographic Range & Migration
Humboldt's Hummingbird
Found in humid Pacific lowland forests of Colombia and Ecuador. Resident in Chocó forest edges.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,700–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Humboldt's Hummingbird
Sword-billed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Humboldt's Hummingbird
Black-throated Coucal: black throat; brown streaked above; rufous wings; buff below; long dark tail; red eye; black throat distinctive
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Olivaceous Thornbill: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic olive-bronze above; white underparts; females green above; spots
About These Birds
Humboldt's Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in humid Pacific lowland forests of Colombia and Ecuador. Green plumage. Nectarivore of Chocó forest edges. Named after Alexander von Humboldt. Sometimes considered a subspecies of Sapphire-throated Hummingbird.
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.