Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Fire-throated Metaltail
Ensifera ensifera compared with Metallura eupogon
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sword-billed Hummingbird | Fire-throated Metaltail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ensifera ensifera | Metallura eupogon |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) | 11.9 cm (4.7 in) |
| Weight | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) | 4.8 g (0.17 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … | Nectarivore of Peruvian high-altitude shrublands; visits Ericaceae and Valeriana flowers. Catches small insects near blooms. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Fire-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.
Fire-throated Metaltail
Soft, pure whistle with plaintive character; gentle sustained tone with slight wavering, given at dawn from cover.
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.
Fire-throated Metaltail
Endemic to Peru in cloud forests and high shrub of the Cordillera Central at 2,800–4,400 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Fire-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
Fire-throated Metaltail
White-throated Mountain-gem: males with glittering ruby-green gorget; metallic green above; white throat; 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.
Fire-throated Metaltail
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the Andes of central and southern Peru at 3,000-4,200 m. Males have a glittering fiery-red throat. Nectarivore of puna scrub and cloud forest edges. A Peruvian endemic found in Polylepis woodland and high-altitude shrubs.