Sword-billed Hummingbird
Ensifera ensifera
The Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera) is a uncommon hummingbird found in 5 countries, weighing about 11 g. The sword-billed hummingbird, also known as the swordbill, is a neotropical species of hummingbird from the Andean regions of South America.
About the Sword-billed Hummingbird
The sword-billed hummingbird, also known as the swordbill, is a neotropical species of hummingbird from the Andean regions of South America. It is the only member in the genus Ensifera. Among the largest species of hummingbird, it is characterized by its unusually long bill, being the only bird to have a beak longer than the rest of its body, excluding the tail. It uses its bill to drink nectar from flowers with long corollas and has coevolved with the species Passiflora mixta. While most hummingbirds preen using their bills, the sword-billed hummingbird uses its feet to scratch and preen due to its bill being so long.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The sword-billed hummingbird is among the largest species of hummingbirds. Adults are 13–14 centimetres (5.1–5.5 in) long excluding the bill and weigh 10–15 g (0.35–0.53 oz), with males being slightly larger on average than females. The most distinctive feature of the species is the enormous bill, which is 8–12 centimetres (3.1–4.7 in) long. The bill is the largest of any hummingbird and the largest with respect to body length for any bird. The sword-billed hummingbird displays sexual dimorphism. Males have shorter bills but longer wings and tails than females. Voice: The sword-billed hummingbird makes a low, guttural, slightly trilled trrr.
What the Sword-billed Hummingbird sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Sword-billed Hummingbird can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Watch the Sword-billed Hummingbird on live cams
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Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Sword-billed Hummingbird?
- The sword-billed hummingbird is among the largest species of hummingbirds. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Sword-billed Hummingbird?
- The Sword-billed Hummingbird is a tiny sized bird weighing about 11 g.
- Where can you see a Sword-billed Hummingbird?
- The Sword-billed Hummingbird occurs in 5 countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Bolivia.
- What does a Sword-billed Hummingbird sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Sword-billed Hummingbird on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Sword-billed Hummingbird?
- The Sword-billed Hummingbird is most easily confused with the Coppery-headed Emerald, the Purple-bibbed Whitetip and the Chestnut-breasted Coronet.
- Is the Sword-billed Hummingbird endangered?
- The Sword-billed Hummingbird is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Sword-billed Hummingbird for real
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