Purple-chested Hummingbird vs Great Sapphirewing
Polyerata rosenbergi compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-chested Hummingbird | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polyerata rosenbergi | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.8 g (0.13 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | 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
Purple-chested Hummingbird
Soft, pure whistle with warm timbre; gentle sustained note barely wavering, given quietly from forest perch.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Purple-chested Hummingbird
Found in humid Pacific lowland forests from eastern Panama to western Ecuador. Resident in Chocó 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
Purple-chested Hummingbird
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Purple-chested Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in humid Pacific lowland forests from eastern Panama to western Ecuador. Males have a rich purple breast patch. Nectarivore of Chocó forest edges. Named after the German zoologist William Rosenberg.
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.