Gilded Hummingbird vs Great Sapphirewing
Hylocharis chrysura compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Gilded Hummingbird | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hylocharis chrysura | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 4.5 g (0.16 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from flowering shrubs and epiphytes. Catches small insects and spiders to meet … | 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
Gilded Hummingbird
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; high light notes cascading softly near flowering canopy trees.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Gilded Hummingbird
Found in open habitats from eastern Brazil through Paraguay to Bolivia and Argentina. Resident in cerrado and gardens.
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
Gilded Hummingbird
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Gilded Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in open habitats from eastern Brazil through Paraguay to Bolivia and Argentina. Golden-bronze plumage overall. Nectarivore of cerrado, gardens, and forest edges. One of the most common hummingbirds in the southern Neotropics.
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.