Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Violet-throated Metaltail

Ensifera ensifera verglichen mit Metallura baroni

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Merkmal Sword-billed Hummingbird Violet-throated Metaltail
Wissenschaftlicher Name Ensifera ensifera Metallura baroni
Ordnung Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Familie Trochilidae Trochilidae
Erhaltungsstatus Least Concern Vulnerable
Länge
Flügelspannweite 15,3 cm (6.0 in) 11,4 cm (4.5 in)
Gewicht 12,75 g (0.45 oz) 4,4 g (0.16 oz)
Ernährung Nectarivore uniquely adapted to extremely long flowers of Passiflora and Datura. Supplements with small insects … Nectarivore of Ecuadorian treeline vegetation; specialized for Ericaceae blooms above 3000 m. Catches small arthropods.
Gelegegröße -- 2
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Gemeinsame Lebensräume

Sword-billed Hummingbird only

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Violet-throated Metaltail only

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Song & Call Comparison

Sword-billed Hummingbird

Gesang

Thin, reedy whistle with plaintive character; soft nasal tone held briefly then gently fading in mist.

Violet-throated Metaltail

Gesang

Melodic, flute-like phrase with clear quality; smooth notes flowing pleasantly in quiet sequence at forest edge.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Sword-billed Hummingbird

Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,700–3,500 m.

Violet-throated Metaltail

Endemic to a tiny area in the Cajas plateau region of southwestern Ecuador. 3,000–4,200 m. Critically endangered.

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Erhaltungsstatus

Least Concern

Sword-billed Hummingbird

Vulnerable

Violet-throated Metaltail

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How to Tell Them Apart

Sword-billed Hummingbird

Gefieder

Olivaceous Thornbill: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic olive-bronze above; white underparts; females green above; spots

Violet-throated Metaltail

Gefieder

Green-throated Mountain-gem: males with glittering green gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted

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About These Birds

Sword-billed Hummingbird

A remarkable hummingbird (14-15 cm body) with a bill as long as its body (8-10 cm), the longest bill relative to body size of any bird. Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Bolivia at 1,700-3,500 m. The extraordinarily long bill evolved to feed on deep tubular Passiflora flowers.

Violet-throated Metaltail

A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to the Andes of southern Ecuador at 2,500-3,500 m. Males have a violet-purple throat. Nectarivore of cloud forest and páramo edges. Classified as Endangered due to limited range. Named after Baron Erich von Baroni.

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