Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Violet-throated Metaltail
Ensifera ensifera compared with Metallura baroni
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sword-billed Hummingbird | Violet-throated Metaltail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ensifera ensifera | Metallura baroni |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) | 11.4 cm (4.5 in) |
| Weight | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) | 4.4 g (0.16 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … | Nectarivore of Ecuadorian treeline vegetation; specialized for Ericaceae blooms above 3000 m. Catches small arthropods. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
None
Violet-throated Metaltail 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-throated Metaltail
Melodic, flute-like phrase with clear quality; smooth notes flowing pleasantly in quiet sequence at 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.
Violet-throated Metaltail
Endemic to a tiny area in the Cajas plateau region of southwestern Ecuador. 3,000–4,200 m. Critically endangered.
Conservation Status
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Violet-throated Metaltail
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-throated Metaltail
Green-throated Mountain-gem: males with glittering green gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
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-throated Metaltail
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to the Andes of southern Ecuador at 2,500-3,500 m. Males have a violet-purple throat. Nectarivore of cloud forest and páramo edges. Classified as Endangered due to limited range. Named after Baron Erich von Baroni.