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The great sapphirewing is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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The great sapphirewing is one of the largest hummingbirds; only the two of genus Topaza and the giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) are larger. It is 15.5 to 19 cm (6.1 to 7.5 in) long including the 3.6 cm (1.4 in) bill. Males weigh between 9.6 and 11.2 g (0.34 and 0.40 oz) and females 8.4 to 11 g (0.30 to 0.39 oz). Both sexes have a small white spot behind the eye. Males of the nominate subspecies have dark shining blue-green upperparts. The wing is mostly shining blue and the tail greenish black. The underparts are also blue-green but somewhat bluer than the upperparts. Voice: The great sapphirewing's vocalizations include "a high, thin, liquid chatter", a "drawn-out piercing high-pitched zeee", and " agitated titititirrr".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Great Sapphirewing sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in November · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Buff-winged StarfrontletCoeligena lutetiaeThe buff-winged starfrontlet is about 14 cm (5.5 in) long.
Mexican VioletearColibri thalassinusThe Mexican violetear is roughly medium-sized by hummingbird standards.
Violet-fronted BrilliantHeliodoxa leadbeateriThe violet-fronted brilliant is 11 to 13 cm (4.3 to 5.1 in) long.
Learn the Great Sapphirewing for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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