Bird Guide

Blue-fronted Lancebill vs Green-fronted Lancebill

Blue-fronted Lancebill (Doryfera johannae)

Blue-fronted Lancebill

Doryfera johannae

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The blue-fronted lancebill is 9.6 to 11 cm (3.8 to 4.3 in) long. Males weigh 3 to 5 g (0.11 to 0.18 oz) and females 3.3 to 6 g (0.12 to 0.21 oz). Both sexes have a long straight to slightly upcurved bill, and often hold it at an upward angle. Males of the nominate subspecies have a violet forehead ("front"), a bronze nape, and otherwise dark bronzy green upperparts. The tail is short and blue-black. The underparts are blue-black with a bluish green gloss on the throat and breast. The female differs from the male by having a greenish blue forehead and dull grayish bronzy green underparts. Voice: The blue-fronted lancebill's song has not been described and apparently has not been recorded. While foraging it makes "thin, dry, chittering notes...e.g. 'chuert'."

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Blue-fronted Lancebill
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Call · Zamora-Chinchipe: Filo de Chumbiriatza, tepui 4.5 km SW Las Orchideas, above "Cabañas Yankuam", Nangaritza Valley, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Dario Taraborelli · CC0
Green-fronted Lancebill (Doryfera ludovicae)

Green-fronted Lancebill

Doryfera ludovicae

Tiny6 gForest

The green-fronted lancebill, as the name suggests, is distinguished by a "glittering" green patch of feathers on their forehead. Between males and females, males consistently have a prominent forehead patch, however, literature is inconsistent on the appearance of females. One notable source claims females can vary widely between individuals, stating the female forehead with regards to both feather development and color intensity, can range from barely visible to indistinguishable from common male plumage.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Green-fronted Lancebill
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Call · Zamora-Chinchipe: above 'Cabañas Yankuam' 2 km S Las Orchideas, Nangaritza Valley, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Daniel A. Monsalve Ortiz · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Blue-fronted Lancebill and Green-fronted Lancebill.