Coppery-headed Emerald vs Great Sapphirewing
Microchera cupreiceps compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Coppery-headed Emerald | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Microchera cupreiceps | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.15 g (0.11 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from diverse forest flowers, hovering briefly at each bloom. Takes small insects … | 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
Coppery-headed Emerald
Rough, grating buzz with coarse texture; harsh sustained vibration carrying across open scrubby hillside.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Coppery-headed Emerald
Endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica at 700-1,600 m. Classified as Near Threatened. A Costa Rican endemic.
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
Coppery-headed Emerald
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Coppery-headed Emerald
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica at 700-1,600 m. Males have a glittering copper-green crown and white breast. Nectarivore of cloud forest and forest edges. A Costa Rican endemic. Classified as Near Threatened.
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.