Buffy Hummingbird vs Great Sapphirewing
Leucippus fallax compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Buffy Hummingbird | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Leucippus fallax | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.0 cm (4.7 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.533333333333334 g (0.20 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | Nectarivore of high Andean cloud forest and treeline; one of the largest hummingbirds. Visits Ericaceae … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Buffy Hummingbird
Thin, sibilant buzz with wavering quality; soft high trill with gentle tremolo near blossoming shrubs.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Buffy Hummingbird
Found in dry scrub and arid habitats of Colombia and Venezuela. Resident in desert-like coastal environments.
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
Buffy Hummingbird
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Buffy Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in dry scrub and arid habitats of Colombia and Venezuela. Buffy-brown plumage, drab for a hummingbird. Nectarivore of arid scrub, cactus flowers, and gardens. One of the few hummingbirds adapted to dry, desert-like environments.
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.