Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Sapphire-vented Puffleg
Ensifera ensifera compared with Eriocnemis luciani
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sword-billed Hummingbird | Sapphire-vented Puffleg |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ensifera ensifera | Eriocnemis luciani |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) | 6.050000000000001 g (0.21 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … | Nectarivore of Ecuadorian and Peruvian Ericaceae-rich cloud forest. Catches small arthropods from mossy bark near … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
None
Sapphire-vented 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.
Sapphire-vented Puffleg
Melodic, descending whistle with clear timbre; smooth pure tones stepping downward gracefully in high-altitude morning.
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.
Sapphire-vented Puffleg
Widespread in high Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 2,400–4,200 m.
Conservation Status
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Sapphire-vented 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
Sapphire-vented Puffleg
Rufous-webbed Brilliant: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
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.
Sapphire-vented Puffleg
A small hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Bolivia at 2,500-3,800 m. Green plumage with sapphire-blue vent and white leg puffs. Nectarivore of montane forest and páramo edges. Relatively common along the Andes.