Green Hermit vs Great Sapphirewing
Phaethornis guy compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green Hermit | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phaethornis guy | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.8 cm (4.6 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.416666666666667 g (0.19 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore trap-lining Heliconia patches in humid lowland forest. Supplements with arthropods for breeding protein demands. | 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
Green Hermit
Harsh, screaming trill with urgent intensity; loud, rough notes escalating quickly during territorial disputes near flowers.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Green Hermit
Found in humid foothill forests from Trinidad and Costa Rica south through Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador to Bolivia. 200–1,800 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
Green Hermit
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Green Hermit
A large hermit hummingbird (15-17 cm) found in humid montane forests from Central America to Peru at 400-2,000 m elevation. Brilliant green plumage with dark face mask and long, white-tipped tail. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth, visiting Heliconia and Passiflora flowers.
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.