Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Peruvian Racket-tail
Ensifera ensifera compared with Ocreatus peruanus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sword-billed Hummingbird | Peruvian Racket-tail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ensifera ensifera | Ocreatus peruanus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) | — |
| Weight | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) | 3.0 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … | Nectarivore of Peruvian montane forest; forages at diverse Andean flowers. Supplements with small arthropods. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Peruvian Racket-tail
Soft, sibilant hissing trill; gentle continuous buzz with pulsing quality during slow courtship hovering display.
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.
Peruvian Racket-tail
Found on the eastern Andean slope in Peru in foothill and lower montane forest. 400–1,600 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Peruvian Racket-tail
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
Peruvian Racket-tail
Violet-throated Starfrontlet: males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green body; white pectoral tufts; 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.
Peruvian Racket-tail
A small hummingbird (8-10 cm plus tail rackets in males) found in Andean cloud forests of Peru at 1,500-2,500 m. Males have elongated tail rackets and white leg puffs. Recently split from Booted Racket-tail. Nectarivore of montane forest.