Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Amethyst-throated Sunangel
Ensifera ensifera compared with Heliangelus amethysticollis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sword-billed Hummingbird | Amethyst-throated Sunangel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ensifera ensifera | Heliangelus amethysticollis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) | 12.6 cm (5.0 in) |
| Weight | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) | 5.433333333333334 g (0.19 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … | Nectarivore foraging at Ericaceae shrubs and epiphytic orchids in cloud forest. Gleans small insects from … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
None
Amethyst-throated Sunangel only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Amethyst-throated Sunangel
Soft, descending melodic phrase; gentle notes stepping smoothly down the scale in quiet, unhurried musical progression.
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.
Amethyst-throated Sunangel
Found in Andean cloud forests from southern Peru through Bolivia. 2,400–3,800 m elevation. Resident.
Conservation Status
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Amethyst-throated Sunangel
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
Amethyst-throated Sunangel
Perija Metaltail: deep violet-blue breast shield; shining metallic green above; white postocular stripe; females duller with spotted below
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.
Amethyst-throated Sunangel
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Bolivia at 2,000-3,500 m. Males have a glittering amethyst-purple throat. Green plumage with rufous underparts. Nectarivore of montane forest and páramo edges.