Planalto Hermit vs Great Sapphirewing
Phaethornis pretrei compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Planalto Hermit | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phaethornis pretrei | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.9 cm (4.7 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.0200000000000005 g (0.18 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore following trap-lining routes through Heliconia and Costus flowers. Catches small arthropods for protein. | 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
Planalto Hermit
Melodic, rising whistle with hopeful quality; smooth ascending note curving upward then briefly hovering before fading.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Planalto Hermit
Endemic to eastern and central Brazil from Piauí and Goiás to Mato Grosso. Found in cerrado and dry forest at 300–800 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
Planalto Hermit
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Planalto Hermit
A medium-sized hermit hummingbird (13-15 cm) found in cerrado, gallery forests, and dry woodlands of central and eastern Brazil. Green upperparts, pale underparts, and rufous rump with long, white-tipped central tail feathers. Named after the French naturalist Auguste de Saint-Hilaire.
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.