Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Rufous-crested Coquette
Ensifera ensifera compared with Lophornis delattrei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sword-billed Hummingbird | Rufous-crested Coquette |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ensifera ensifera | Lophornis delattrei |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) | 7.7 cm (3.0 in) |
| Weight | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) | 2.8 g (0.10 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … | Nectarivore of lowland forest gaps; insect-like flight style enables foraging at dense flower clusters. Takes … |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Rufous-crested Coquette only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Rufous-crested Coquette
Soft, liquid cascade of notes; gentle flowing sequence with subtle melodic variation, pleasing and unhurried in pace.
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.
Rufous-crested Coquette
Found from Panama south through Colombia to Peru on both Andean slopes in foothill forest. 0–1,400 m.
Conservation Status
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Rufous-crested Coquette
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
Rufous-crested Coquette
Gorgeted Woodstar: males with iridescent scarlet-red gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; tiny size; females spotted throat
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.
Rufous-crested Coquette
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) found from southern Mexico through Central America to Bolivia and Peru. Males have a rufous crest and wispy cheek plumes. Green plumage. Nectarivore of forest edges, gardens, and clearings. One of the most widespread coquettes.