Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird vs Great Sapphirewing

Cynanthus doubledayi compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird Great Sapphirewing
Scientific Name Cynanthus doubledayi Pterophanes cyanopterus
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 10.0 cm (3.9 in) 21.0 cm (8.3 in)
Weight 3.075 g (0.11 oz) 10.05 g (0.35 oz)
Diet Feeds on nectar from flowering shrubs and epiphytes. Catches small insects and spiders to meet … Nectarivore of high Andean cloud forest and treeline; one of the largest hummingbirds. Visits Ericaceae …
Clutch Size 2 2
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird only

None

Great Sapphirewing only

Song & Call Comparison

Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird

Song

Rapid, light twittering cascade; bright airy notes tumbling quickly in animated sequence during display.

Great Sapphirewing

Song

Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.

Geographic Range & Migration

Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird

Endemic to the Pacific slope of southern Mexico from Guerrero to Oaxaca. Resident in tropical deciduous 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

Least Concern

Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird

Least Concern

Great Sapphirewing

About These Birds

Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird

A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to the Pacific slope of southern Mexico from Guerrero to Oaxaca. Males have a turquoise-blue crown and green body. Nectarivore of tropical deciduous forest. A Mexican endemic with limited range.

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.

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