Grey-tailed Mountain-gem vs Great Sapphirewing
Lampornis cinereicauda compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Grey-tailed Mountain-gem | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis cinereicauda | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.4 cm (4.9 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.425 g (0.19 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Costa Rican and Panamanian cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Salvia. 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
Grey-tailed Mountain-gem
Sharp, crackling chatter with percussive quality; rapid dry notes delivered forcefully near active territory boundary.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Grey-tailed Mountain-gem
Found in highland forest of Costa Rica, primarily the Pacific slope Talamanca range. 1,200–2,400 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
Grey-tailed Mountain-gem
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Grey-tailed Mountain-gem
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the Talamanca highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama at 1,400-2,500 m. Males have green plumage with a grey tail. Nectarivore of cloud forest. Closely related to Purple-throated Mountain-gem.
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.