Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Sparkling-tailed Woodstar
Ensifera ensifera compared with Tilmatura dupontii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sword-billed Hummingbird | Sparkling-tailed Woodstar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ensifera ensifera | Tilmatura dupontii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.3 cm (6.0 in) | 7.2 cm (2.8 in) |
| Weight | 12.75 g (0.45 oz) | 2.2 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … | Feeds on floral nectar at low scrub blooms in dry Central American valleys. Catches small … |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Sword-billed Hummingbird only
Sparkling-tailed Woodstar only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.
Sparkling-tailed Woodstar
Sharp, penetrating squeak repeated quickly; tiny piercing notes given insistently during competitive territorial encounter.
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.
Sparkling-tailed Woodstar
Found in highlands from southern Mexico to Honduras at 600-2,500 m elevation. Resident in pine-oak and cloud forest edges.
Conservation Status
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Sparkling-tailed Woodstar
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
Sparkling-tailed Woodstar
Anna's Hummingbird (alt): males with glittering rose-red gorget extending to crown; metallic green back; females green with 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.
Sparkling-tailed Woodstar
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) found in highlands from Mexico to Honduras at 600-2,500 m. Males have a striking elongated, sparkling tail with dark tips. Nectarivore of pine-oak forest edges and gardens. The tail sparkles like fireworks in flight.