Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Hispaniolan Emerald
Ensifera ensifera compared with Riccordia swainsonii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sword-billed Hummingbird | Hispaniolan Emerald |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ensifera ensifera | Riccordia swainsonii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) | — |
| Weight | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) | 3.75 g (0.13 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … | Feeds on nectar from Hispaniolan forest flowers and garden plants. Supplements diet with small insects … |
| 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.
Hispaniolan Emerald
Sharp, emphatic two-syllable whistle; first note high and accented, second falling softly, repeated clearly.
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.
Hispaniolan Emerald
Endemic to Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti). Resident across the island in forests, gardens, and plantations.
Conservation Status
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Hispaniolan Emerald
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
Hispaniolan Emerald
Berylline Hummingbird (alt): males with iridescent beryl-green gorget; metallic green above; rufous wings; 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.
Hispaniolan Emerald
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti). Bright green plumage with a dark auricular patch and pale breast. Nectarivore of forests, gardens, and coffee plantations. The most widespread hummingbird on Hispaniola.