Violet-capped Hummingbird vs Great Sapphirewing
Goldmania violiceps compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Violet-capped Hummingbird | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Goldmania violiceps | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 9.9 cm (3.9 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.8666666666666667 g (0.14 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from lowland Panamanian forest flowers. Supplements with insects and spiders foraged from … | 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
Violet-capped Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic ring; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Violet-capped Hummingbird
Found in humid forests from eastern Panama to northwestern Colombia. Resident in lowland forest undergrowth.
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
Violet-capped Hummingbird
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Violet-capped Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in humid forests from eastern Panama to northwestern Colombia. Green plumage with a violet crown (males). Nectarivore of forest undergrowth and edges. Named after the American ornithologist William Goldman.
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.