Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Glow-throated Hummingbird
Ensifera ensifera compared with Selasphorus ardens
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sword-billed Hummingbird | Glow-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ensifera ensifera | Selasphorus ardens |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … | Nectarivore of Chiriquí highlands; feeds at flowering understorey shrubs and supplements with insects and spiders. |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Glow-throated Hummingbird only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Glow-throated Hummingbird
Deep, hollow resonant churr; low-frequency buzzing sound vibrating persistently through tropical forest canopy.
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.
Glow-throated Hummingbird
Endemic to the western highlands of Panama at 900-2,000 m in the Chiriquí region. Classified as Endangered.
Conservation Status
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Glow-throated Hummingbird
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
Glow-throated Hummingbird
Black-billed Streamertail: males with glittering green body; elongated tail streamers; black bill; females plain 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.
Glow-throated Hummingbird
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) endemic to the western highlands of Panama at 900-2,000 m. Males have a glowing magenta throat. Nectarivore of cloud forest edges. Classified as Endangered due to extremely restricted range in the Chiriquí highlands.