Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Emerald-bellied Puffleg
Ensifera ensifera compared with Eriocnemis aline
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sword-billed Hummingbird | Emerald-bellied Puffleg |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ensifera ensifera | Eriocnemis aline |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) | 9.9 cm (3.9 in) |
| Weight | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) | 3.75 g (0.13 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … | Nectarivore of Peruvian and Bolivian montane forest; forages at Ericaceae and epiphytic orchids. Takes small … |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Emerald-bellied Puffleg only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Emerald-bellied Puffleg
Rapid, light twittering cascade; high airy notes tumbling quickly in animated sequence during competitive interaction.
Geographic Range & Migration
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,700–3,500 m.
Emerald-bellied Puffleg
Found on the eastern Andean slope from Peru to Bolivia in lower montane cloud forest at 900–2,200 m.
Conservation Status
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Emerald-bellied Puffleg
How to Tell Them Apart
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Olivaceous Thornbill: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic olive-bronze above; white underparts; females green above; spots
Emerald-bellied Puffleg
Gorgeted Puffleg: males with glittering blue-violet gorget; metallic green above; large white leg puffs; females green above; spots
About These Birds
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.
Emerald-bellied Puffleg
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Bolivia at 2,000-3,200 m. Green plumage with emerald-green belly and white leg puffs. Nectarivore of montane forest and forest edges. A widespread Andean cloud forest species.