White-vented Violetear vs Sword-billed Hummingbird
Colibri serrirostris compared with Ensifera ensifera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-vented Violetear | Sword-billed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Colibri serrirostris | Ensifera ensifera |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.6 cm (5.4 in) | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 6.199999999999999 g (0.22 oz) | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of highland and lowland forest margins. Feeds on diverse tubular flowers and catches flying … | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
White-vented Violetear
Sharp, emphatic squeak repeated quickly; tiny piercing notes delivered insistently during competitive encounters near feeders.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-vented Violetear
Found in cerrado, chaco, and open woodland of central and southern Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. 200–1,200 m elevation.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,700–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
White-vented Violetear
Sword-billed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
White-vented Violetear
Coppery Emerald: iridescent bronze-green with coppery rump; violet-blue gorget; white belly patch; rufous flanks; females plain below
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Olivaceous Thornbill: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic olive-bronze above; white underparts; females green above; spots
About These Birds
White-vented Violetear
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) with green plumage, violet ear patches, and a distinctive white vent. Found in cerrado and open habitats of central South America from Brazil to Argentina. Nectarivore of savanna flowers and gardens. An adaptable, widespread 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.