Colorful Puffleg vs Great Sapphirewing
Eriocnemis mirabilis compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Colorful Puffleg | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eriocnemis mirabilis | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 10.2 cm (4.0 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.06 g (0.18 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore restricted to Colombian Pacific slope cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and Fuchsia. Supplements with arthropods. | Nectarivore of high Andean cloud forest and treeline; one of the largest hummingbirds. Visits Ericaceae … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Colorful Puffleg
Thin, wavering whistle with plaintive quality; soft slightly nasal tone trembling gently, poorly known vocally.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Colorful Puffleg
Endemic to a tiny area in the western Colombian Andes near the Río Mechengue at 1,400–2,000 m. Critically endangered.
Great Sapphirewing
Found in high Andean cloud forests and páramo from Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia. 2,400–3,800 m.
Conservation Status
Colorful Puffleg
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Colorful Puffleg
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the western Andes of Colombia at 1,800-2,200 m. Males have iridescent multicolored plumage and white leg puffs. Nectarivore of cloud forest. Classified as Critically Endangered with an extremely restricted range.
Great Sapphirewing
A large hummingbird (18 cm, wingspan 28 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Bolivia at 2,500-3,500 m. Brilliant sapphire-blue wings, green body, and long tail. One of the largest hummingbirds. Nectarivore of montane forest, visiting large-flowered Ericaceae.