Bird Guide

Golden-breasted Puffleg vs Sapphire-vented Puffleg

Golden-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis mosquera)

Golden-breasted Puffleg

Eriocnemis mosquera

Tiny5 gForest

The golden-breasted puffleg is about 11 to 13 cm (4.3 to 5.1 in) long and weighs about 5.3 g (0.19 oz). It has a straight black bill. The male has shining green upperparts with a bronzier green nape and rump. Its underparts are mostly glittering golden green. Its lower throat and upper breast are coppery bronze and the undertail coverts brownish. Its leg puffs are white. The tail is forked; its central feathers are blue-green and the outer two pairs dark green to blue-black. The female is slightly smaller and has somewhat greener undertail coverts but is otherwise similar to the male. Voice: The golden-breasted puffleg's calls are "trit notes".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Peter Archdale · CC BY 4.0
Sapphire-vented Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani)

Sapphire-vented Puffleg

Eriocnemis luciani

Tiny6 gForest

The sapphire-vented puffleg is 11.4 to 14 cm (4.5 to 5.5 in) long and weighs 5.4 to 6.4 g (0.19 to 0.23 oz). It has a straight black bill. The nominate subspecies' male has metallic grass green upperparts with a shining dark blue forecrown. Its underparts are mostly glittering golden green with a glittering purple vent and undertail coverts. Its leg puffs are white and the tail is deeply forked and blue-black. The female is slightly smaller, with a less deeply forked tail, but has the same plumage. Subspecies E. l. Voice: The sapphire-vented puffleg's call is described as a "sharp tirr tirr".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Morten Ross, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Morten Ross · cc-by

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Golden-breasted Puffleg and Sapphire-vented Puffleg.