Racket-tipped Thorntail vs Great Sapphirewing
Discosura longicaudus compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Racket-tipped Thorntail | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Discosura longicaudus | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.6 cm (3.4 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.35 g (0.12 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Amazonian forest canopy. Forages at Inga and other legume flowers; supplements with small … | Nectarivore of high Andean cloud forest and treeline; one of the largest hummingbirds. Visits Ericaceae … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Racket-tipped Thorntail
Melodic, ascending scale of clear notes; bright flute-like tones climbing smoothly, characteristic of morning territorial song.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Racket-tipped Thorntail
Found in humid lowland forest from Colombia and Venezuela east through the Guianas and Amazonian Brazil. 0–600 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
Racket-tipped Thorntail
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Racket-tipped Thorntail
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm plus long tail rackets in males) found in humid lowland forests from Venezuela through the Guianas and Amazonia. Males have elongated outer tail feathers with distinctive racket-shaped tips. Nectarivore of forest canopy.
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.