Hook-billed Hermit vs Great Sapphirewing
Glaucis dohrnii compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Hook-billed Hermit | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Glaucis dohrnii | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.6 cm (5.0 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 6.659999999999999 g (0.23 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore and occasional insectivore; visits heliconia, bromeliads, and Inga flowers while trap-lining territories. | Nectarivore of high Andean cloud forest and treeline; one of the largest hummingbirds. Visits Ericaceae … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Hook-billed Hermit
Thin, penetrating whistle sustained briefly; followed by rapid buzzing trill, combination unique among syntopic hummingbirds.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Hook-billed Hermit
Found along the Atlantic coast of eastern Brazil from Bahia to Espírito Santo. Resident in coastal rainforest. Endangered; highly restricted range.
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
Hook-billed Hermit
Great Sapphirewing
How to Tell Them Apart
Hook-billed Hermit
Bronze-green upperparts; cinnamon-rufous underparts with faint darker barring; pale buff supercilium stripe; rufous-buff tail with dark subterminal band; strongly curved bill; vulnerable Brazilian Atlantic forest endemic.
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Hook-billed Hermit
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) endemic to the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. Bronze-green plumage with a hooked bill tip. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth, visiting Heliconia and bromeliads. Classified as Endangered due to severe habitat loss in Brazil's coastal forests.
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.