Bird Guide

Napo Sabrewing vs Violet Sabrewing

Napo Sabrewing (Campylopterus villaviscensio)

Napo Sabrewing

Campylopterus villaviscensio

Tiny7 gForest

The Napo sabrewing is about 13.5 cm (5.3 in) long. Males weigh 7.4 to 9.3 g (0.26 to 0.33 oz) and females 5.2 to 7.4 g (0.18 to 0.26 oz). Both sexes have an almost straight black bill and a white spot behind the eye. The male's crown is glittering golden green and the rest of its upperparts bronzy green. Its throat and chest are dark violet-blue and the rest of its underparts dark gray with green spots. Its central tail feathers are bronze-green and the rest dark blue. Females have entirely emerald green upperparts and gray underparts. Voice: The Napo sabrewing's song is "a long series of two notes repeated continuously at evenly spaced intervals 'tslip...tseek...tslip...tseek...' or 'trrip...tseek...trrip...tseek'." Its calls include "a single 'chip' or doubled 'chirrip'" that sometimes become a short rattle.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ana Agreda, Aves y Conservación · Public domain
Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus)

Violet Sabrewing

Campylopterus hemileucurus

Tiny10 gForest

The violet sabrewing is the largest hummingbird of Mexico and Central America. It is 13 to 15 cm (5.1 to 5.9 in) long and weighs 9 to 12 g (0.32 to 0.42 oz). Both sexes have a black bill, though those of subspecies C. h. mellitus are longer than the nominate's. Males of the nominate subspecies have a dusky crown with a bluish green gloss. Their nape and upper back, face, and underparts are metallic violet blue that is somewhat bluer on the belly. Their lower back and uppertail coverts are metallic green. Voice: The violet sabrewing's song has been described as "cheep tsew cheep tik-tik tsew cheep ..., high-pitched, piercing and ventriloquial" and as "varied, loud, sharp chipping and warbles, often punctuated with fairly shrill, slightly explosive notes". Its calls are "high, sharp chippering", "prolonged, hard chipping", and "single sharp chips given in flight."

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Violet Sabrewing
Recorded by Oliver Komar · Song · San Pedro Sula, Departamento de Cortés, Honduras · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Anthony Batista · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Napo Sabrewing and Violet Sabrewing.