Fawn-breasted Brilliant vs Great Sapphirewing
Heliodoxa rubinoides compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Fawn-breasted Brilliant | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliodoxa rubinoides | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.9 cm (5.5 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 7.368 g (0.26 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Ecuadorian cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Fuchsia blooms. Gleans small … | 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
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Rapid, bright twittering cascade; light airy notes tumbling freely in animated sequence above tropical blossoms.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Found in foothill and lower montane cloud forest from Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia. 600–2,000 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
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Bolivia at 1,200-2,500 m. Green plumage with a distinctive fawn-buff breast. Nectarivore of montane forest and forest edges. A common cloud forest species across its 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.