Wire-crested Thorntail vs Sword-billed Hummingbird
Discosura popelairii compared with Ensifera ensifera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Wire-crested Thorntail | Sword-billed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Discosura popelairii | Ensifera ensifera |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 6.6 cm (2.6 in) | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 2.5 g (0.09 oz) | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of lowland tropical forest; forages high in canopy at flowering bromeliads and epiphytes. Supplements … | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Wire-crested Thorntail
Rapid, light twittering with crystalline quality; bright airy notes cascading freely in animated display above canopy.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Geographic Range & Migration
Wire-crested Thorntail
Found on the eastern Andean slope in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and far western Brazil. 200–1,400 m elevation.
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,700–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Wire-crested Thorntail
Sword-billed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Wire-crested Thorntail
Bronze-tailed Comet: males with brilliant coppery-orange crown; glittering teal gorget; metallic green back; bronze tail; females duller
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Olivaceous Thornbill: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic olive-bronze above; white underparts; females green above; spots
About These Birds
Wire-crested Thorntail
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm plus extended tail wires in males, total 12-13 cm). Males have a spectacular erect green crest and long, wire-like outer tail feathers. Found in Andean foothill forests from Colombia to Peru. Nectarivore. One of the most ornate hummingbirds.
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.