Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Green-fronted Hummingbird
Ensifera ensifera compared with Leucolia viridifrons
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sword-billed Hummingbird | Green-fronted Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ensifera ensifera | Leucolia viridifrons |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) | — |
| Weight | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) | 6.166666666666667 g (0.22 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … | Nectarivore visiting diverse flowering plants; supplements the high-sugar nectar diet with small insects and spiders … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Green-fronted Hummingbird only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Green-fronted Hummingbird
Deep, hollow churring resonant sound; low-frequency buzzing trill carrying well through humid forest edge.
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.
Green-fronted Hummingbird
Endemic to the Pacific slope of Mexico from Sonora to Oaxaca. Resident in tropical deciduous forest.
Conservation Status
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Green-fronted Hummingbird
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
Green-fronted Hummingbird
Buff-headed Coucal: buff-white head; dark brown back; rufous wings; pale underparts; long dark tail; red eye; striking head pattern
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.
Green-fronted Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the Pacific slope of Mexico from Sonora to Oaxaca. Males have a green forehead and white breast. Nectarivore of tropical deciduous forest and thorn scrub. A Mexican endemic.