Charming Hummingbird vs Great Sapphirewing
Polyerata decora compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Charming Hummingbird | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polyerata decora | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 4.335 g (0.15 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Visits flowering trees and epiphytes for nectar; supplements diet with small arthropods including gnats, midges, … | 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
Charming Hummingbird
High, crystalline notes in animated ascending phrase; clear bright tones climbing smoothly in energetic display.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Charming Hummingbird
Found in humid forests from Costa Rica to western Panama. Resident in lowland and foothill forest.
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
Charming Hummingbird
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Charming Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in humid forests from Costa Rica to western Panama. Green plumage with a blue breast. Nectarivore of forest edges. Closely related to Blue-chested Hummingbird. A Central American near-endemic.
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.