Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Green-bearded Helmetcrest
Ensifera ensifera compared with Oxypogon guerinii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sword-billed Hummingbird | Green-bearded Helmetcrest |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ensifera ensifera | Oxypogon guerinii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) | 14.1 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) | 5.175000000000001 g (0.18 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … | Nectarivore of Colombian páramo; forages at frailejón (Espeletia) and cushion plants. Catches small insects near … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Green-bearded Helmetcrest only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
Sharp, high-pitched squeak with penetrating quality; sudden emphatic note given repeatedly near active feeding territory.
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.
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
Endemic to the eastern Andes of Colombia in high páramo at 3,200–4,800 m elevation. Locally common.
Conservation Status
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
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
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
Blue-tailed Hummingbird (alt): males with glittering blue-tipped gorget; metallic green above; blue tail; females green above 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.
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
A small hummingbird (11-12 cm) endemic to the eastern Andes of Colombia at 3,500-4,500 m. Males have a green beard and erect crest. Nectarivore of páramo and treeline habitats, visiting Espeletia and Ericaceae. A Colombian endemic of high-altitude páramo.