Butterfly Coquette vs Great Sapphirewing
Lophornis verreauxii compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Butterfly Coquette | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lophornis verreauxii | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.6 cm (3.4 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.0 g (0.11 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of humid forest clearings; compact size allows access to small flowers. Gleans tiny 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
Butterfly Coquette
Buzzy, insect-like trill sustained briefly; continuous high-frequency vibration then sudden silence, disorienting in quality.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Butterfly Coquette
Found on western Andean slope and Pacific lowlands of Colombia and Ecuador. Sea level to 1,200 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
Butterfly Coquette
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Butterfly Coquette
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) found in humid forests from Venezuela and Colombia to Peru and Bolivia. Males have wispy green cheek plumes and a white breast band. Nectarivore of forest edges and clearings. Named for the French ornithologists Jules and Edouard Verreaux.
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.