Tres Marias Hummingbird vs Sword-billed Hummingbird
Cynanthus lawrencei compared with Ensifera ensifera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tres Marias Hummingbird | Sword-billed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cynanthus lawrencei | Ensifera ensifera |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 10.0 cm (3.9 in) | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 3.05 g (0.11 oz) | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from Tres Marias Island flowers; diet supplemented with small insects and spiders … | 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
Tres Marias Hummingbird only
None
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Song & Call Comparison
Tres Marias Hummingbird
Pure, sustained whistle with bell-like clarity; single clear note ringing out then slowly fading in air.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Geographic Range & Migration
Tres Marias Hummingbird
Endemic to the Tres Marías Islands off the Pacific coast of western Mexico. 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
Tres Marias Hummingbird
Sword-billed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Tres Marias Hummingbird
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird: males with iridescent green gorget; metallic green above; rufous tail; buff underparts; females similar
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Olivaceous Thornbill: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic olive-bronze above; white underparts; females green above; spots
About These Birds
Tres Marias Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to the Tres Marías Islands off western Mexico. Green plumage. Recently split from Broad-billed Hummingbird. Nectarivore of tropical deciduous forest on the islands. A very range-restricted island 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.