Coppery Thorntail vs Great Sapphirewing
Discosura letitiae compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Coppery Thorntail | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Discosura letitiae | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Data Deficient | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 7.5 cm (3.0 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 2.8 g (0.10 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore with elongated tail foraging at high canopy blooms. Catches small insects near 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
Coppery Thorntail
Soft, high peep followed by short buzzy trill; quiet introductory note launching into brief rough continuation.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Coppery Thorntail
Known only from Bolivia; restricted range in humid lowland forest of the Beni region. 150–500 m elevation.
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
Coppery Thorntail
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Coppery Thorntail
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) known from very few specimens collected in Bolivia. Coppery plumage. Almost nothing known about its ecology or current status. One of the most mysterious hummingbirds; possibly rare, possibly overlooked. Further fieldwork needed.
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.