Long-billed Hermit vs Great Sapphirewing
Phaethornis longirostris compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Long-billed Hermit | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phaethornis longirostris | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.2 cm (4.8 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.8 g (0.20 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore visiting Heliconia, Costus, and banana flowers along forest understory routes. Takes small insects opportunistically. | 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
Long-billed Hermit
Pure, flute-like descending scale; smooth melodic phrase moving cleanly through successive notes, warm and round in timbre.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Long-billed Hermit
Widespread from southern Mexico through Central America to northwestern Colombia and western Ecuador. Found at 0–1,200 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
Long-billed Hermit
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Long-billed Hermit
A large hermit hummingbird (15-17 cm) found in humid forests from Mexico to northwestern Colombia. Green plumage with dark face mask, long curved bill, and long, white-tipped tail. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth, an important pollinator of Heliconia 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.