Golden-crowned Emerald vs Sword-billed Hummingbird
Cynanthus auriceps compared with Ensifera ensifera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-crowned Emerald | Sword-billed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cynanthus auriceps | Ensifera ensifera |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 2.2 g (0.08 oz) | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Hovering nectarivore of lowland and montane forest, probing Heliconia and garden flowers. Supplements with insects … | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Golden-crowned Emerald only
None
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Song & Call Comparison
Golden-crowned Emerald
Deep, resonant trill with buzzing quality; powerful churring vibration carrying impressively across open slopes.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Geographic Range & Migration
Golden-crowned Emerald
Endemic to the Pacific slope of western Mexico from Sinaloa to Guerrero. Resident in tropical deciduous forest.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,700–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Golden-crowned Emerald
Sword-billed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Golden-crowned Emerald
Charming Hummingbird: males with brilliant violet-blue gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted below
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Olivaceous Thornbill: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic olive-bronze above; white underparts; females green above; spots
About These Birds
Golden-crowned Emerald
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to the Pacific slope of western Mexico from Sinaloa to Guerrero. Males have a golden crown and green body. Nectarivore of tropical deciduous and semi-arid forest. A Mexican endemic.
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.