Green Thorntail vs Great Sapphirewing
Discosura conversii compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green Thorntail | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Discosura conversii | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.4 cm (3.3 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.0 g (0.11 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore visiting small flowers at forest canopy and edges. Forages in groups at flowering trees; … | Nectarivore of high Andean cloud forest and treeline; one of the largest hummingbirds. Visits Ericaceae … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Green Thorntail
Pure, sustaining tone with bell-like quality; single clear note ringing firmly then slowly diminishing in open air.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Green Thorntail
Found in foothill and lower montane forest from Costa Rica south through Colombia and Ecuador to Peru. 300–1,500 m.
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
Green Thorntail
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Green Thorntail
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) with a long, wire-like tail extending to 10 cm total in males. Brilliant green plumage with white rump band. Found in humid forests from Costa Rica to western Ecuador. Nectarivore of forest canopy, hovering at tiny flowers. Fairy-like flight.
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.