Marvelous Spatuletail vs Great Sapphirewing
Loddigesia mirabilis compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Marvelous Spatuletail | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Loddigesia mirabilis | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.4 cm (3.3 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.0 g (0.11 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of northern Peruvian cloud forest. Visits Ericaceae and Alstroemeria flowers; supplements with small arthropods. | Nectarivore of high Andean cloud forest and treeline; one of the largest hummingbirds. Visits Ericaceae … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Marvelous Spatuletail
Extraordinarily high, thin squeak barely audible; minute twittering notes almost beyond perception, given rarely by male.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Marvelous Spatuletail
Endemic to a small area of the Río Utcubamba valley in Amazonas region, Peru at 2,100–2,900 m. Endangered.
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
Marvelous Spatuletail
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Marvelous Spatuletail
One of the world's most extraordinary hummingbirds (10 cm body, males with 15 cm tail rackets). Males have two extremely long outer tail feathers ending in large, iridescent violet-blue discs. Endemic to a tiny area of northern Peru. Critically Endangered. Fewer than 1,000 individuals.
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.