Horned Sungem vs Great Sapphirewing
Heliactin bilophus compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Horned Sungem | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliactin bilophus | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 9.6 cm (3.8 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 2.3 g (0.08 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of open savanna and cerrado, visiting small flowers of grasses and shrubs. Catches tiny … | 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
Horned Sungem
Melodic, rolling phrase with rich timbre; warm, musical notes tumbling loosely in pleasant sequence at midday.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Horned Sungem
Found in cerrado, caatinga, and dry open habitats across central Brazil from Maranhão to Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso. 300–1,100 m.
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
Horned Sungem
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Horned Sungem
A spectacular small hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the cerrado of central Brazil. Males have two erect, horn-like iridescent violet-blue feather tufts projecting from the sides of the head. Green and white plumage. Nectarivore of cerrado flowers. The only member of its genus.
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.