Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Violet-fronted Brilliant
Ensifera ensifera compared with Heliodoxa leadbeateri
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sword-billed Hummingbird | Violet-fronted Brilliant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ensifera ensifera | Heliodoxa leadbeateri |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) | 13.4 cm (5.3 in) |
| Weight | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) | 7.183333333333334 g (0.25 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and Passiflora. Gleans small insects from … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Violet-fronted Brilliant only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Violet-fronted Brilliant
Broad, resonant whistle with bold projection; deep pure tone ringing out powerfully across open montane forest.
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.
Violet-fronted Brilliant
Widespread in Andean foothill and cloud forest from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 400–2,000 m.
Conservation Status
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Violet-fronted Brilliant
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
Violet-fronted Brilliant
Rufous-shafted Woodstar: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; rufous-shafted tail; 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.
Violet-fronted Brilliant
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Bolivia at 400-2,200 m. Males have a brilliant violet forehead. Nectarivore of montane forest and forest edges. Widespread in the Andean foothills.