Santa Marta Sabrewing
Campylopterus phainopeplus
The Santa Marta Sabrewing (Campylopterus phainopeplus) is a legendary hummingbird found only in Colombia, weighing about 8 g. The Santa Marta sabrewing is a Critically Endangered species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae.
About the Santa Marta Sabrewing
The Santa Marta sabrewing is a Critically Endangered species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is endemic to the Guatapurí dry enclave on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, department of Cesar, northern Colombia. It is one of 24 bird species that are endemic to the Santa Marta highlands.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Santa Marta sabrewing is about 13 cm (5.1 in) long. Both sexes have a decurved black bill, with the female's having more curvature, and both have a white spot behind the eye. Males' upperparts are glittering emerald green. They have a black face; their throat and breast are iridescent blue and the rest of their underparts dark green. Their tail is dark steely blue. The female has shining green upperparts and mostly grayish white underparts with green flanks and undertail coverts. Its tail is mostly green with grayish tips on the outermost pair of feathers. Voice: As of mid-2022 only one recording of the Santa Marta sabrewing is known. It makes "a plaintive double 'twit-twit', both in flight and display."
What the Santa Marta Sabrewing sounds like
When to see it
Best months: January, July, December, with peak activity in January. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Santa Marta Sabrewing?
- The Santa Marta sabrewing is about 13 cm (5.1 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Santa Marta Sabrewing?
- The Santa Marta Sabrewing is a tiny sized bird weighing about 8 g.
- Where can you see a Santa Marta Sabrewing?
- The Santa Marta Sabrewing is endemic to Colombia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What does a Santa Marta Sabrewing sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Santa Marta Sabrewing on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Santa Marta Sabrewing?
- The Santa Marta Sabrewing is most easily confused with the Buff-breasted Sabrewing, the Diamantina Sabrewing and the Rufous-breasted Sabrewing.
- Is the Santa Marta Sabrewing endangered?
- The Santa Marta Sabrewing is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Santa Marta Sabrewing for real
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