Streak-throated Hermit vs Great Sapphirewing
Phaethornis rupurumii compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Streak-throated Hermit | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phaethornis rupurumii | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.6 cm (3.4 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore and insectivore; extracts nectar from trap-lining flowers and hawks small flying insects in forest … | Nectarivore of high Andean cloud forest and treeline; one of the largest hummingbirds. Visits Ericaceae … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Streak-throated Hermit
High, thin peep barely audible beyond few metres; delicate single note repeated softly with long intervals in between.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Streak-throated Hermit
Found in the Guiana Shield from Venezuela and Guyana south through Amazonia to Bolivia. Resident in lowland forest along streams and rivers.
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
Streak-throated Hermit
Great Sapphirewing
How to Tell Them Apart
Streak-throated Hermit
Tiny; green-bronze upperparts; buff underparts with fine dark streaking on throat; pale supercilium; white-tipped central tail feathers; Guiana Shield species; streaked throat pattern distinguishes from other small hermits.
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Streak-throated Hermit
A small hermit hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in humid forests and forest edges of the Guiana Shield and southern Venezuela. Green plumage with streak-patterned throat and rufous underparts. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth. Often confused with Little Hermit in the field.
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.