Slender-tailed Woodstar vs Great Sapphirewing
Microstilbon burmeisteri compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Slender-tailed Woodstar | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Microstilbon burmeisteri | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 6.0 cm (2.4 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 2.09 g (0.07 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of montane scrub, probing small tubular flowers. Catches spiders and minute flies to supply … | 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
Slender-tailed Woodstar
Soft, liquid descending cascade; gentle mellow notes flowing downward in quiet musical sequence at dawn.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Slender-tailed Woodstar
Found in arid scrub and woodland of central Bolivia and northwestern Argentina at 1,000-3,000 m. Resident and partial migrant.
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
Slender-tailed Woodstar
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Slender-tailed Woodstar
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) found in arid scrub and woodland of central Bolivia and northwestern Argentina at 1,000-3,000 m. Males have a slender, forked tail. Nectarivore of dry forest and garden flowers. Named after the German zoologist Hermann Burmeister.
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.