Violet-headed Hummingbird vs Great Sapphirewing
Klais guimeti compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Violet-headed Hummingbird | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Klais guimeti | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 9.7 cm (3.8 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 2.775 g (0.10 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from lowland and foothill flowers in humid Central and South America. Supplements … | 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
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Harsh, emphatic screech with forceful projection; loud rough call carrying across open terrain assertively.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Found in humid forests from Honduras to Bolivia at 400-1,500 m elevation. Resident in lowland and foothill forests.
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-headed Hummingbird
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Violet-headed Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8 cm) found in humid forests from Honduras to Bolivia at 400-1,500 m. Males have an iridescent violet-blue head. Green body. Nectarivore of forest edges and gaps. Named after the French ornithologist Jules Bourcier, who described it as Guimet's specimen.
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.