Green-tailed Goldenthroat vs Great Sapphirewing
Polytmus theresiae compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green-tailed Goldenthroat | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polytmus theresiae | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.3 cm (4.4 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.575 g (0.13 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of open wetland margins and savanna; forages at diverse flower types. Takes tiny flies … | 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
Green-tailed Goldenthroat
Rough, grating buzz with coarse texture; sustained low-pitched trill with vibrating quality audible over some distance.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Green-tailed Goldenthroat
Found in open savanna and forest edges of the Guianas and Amazonian Venezuela and Brazil. Sea level to 600 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
Green-tailed Goldenthroat
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Green-tailed Goldenthroat
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in humid lowland forests and edges from the Guianas through Amazonia to Bolivia and Brazil. Green plumage with a golden-green throat and greenish tail. Nectarivore of forest edges and clearings.
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.