Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Dot-eared Coquette
Ensifera ensifera compared with Lophornis gouldii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sword-billed Hummingbird | Dot-eared Coquette |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ensifera ensifera | Lophornis gouldii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) | 7.6 cm (3.0 in) |
| Weight | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) | 2.533333333333333 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … | Nectarivore visiting compact flower heads and small tubular blooms at forest margins. Takes small insects … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Dot-eared 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.
Dot-eared Coquette
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft, slightly nasal tone held briefly then gently fading away.
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.
Dot-eared Coquette
Endemic to central Brazil in the cerrado zone of Maranhão, Piauí, and Tocantins. Found at 200–700 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Dot-eared 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
Dot-eared Coquette
Sword-billed Hummingbird: males with extraordinarily long bill; glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; females green with 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.
Dot-eared Coquette
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) endemic to central Brazil. Males have spotted ear tufts and rufous crest. Green plumage. Nectarivore of cerrado and gallery forest edges. Named after John Gould. A rare Brazilian endemic; relatively little known ecologically.