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ForestCup nestTiny · 11 g
What the Sword-billed Hummingbird sounds like
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Sword-billed Hummingbird
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Sword-billed Hummingbird
The map shades 5 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
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.
Easily confused with
Coppery-headed EmeraldMicrochera cupreicepsThe coppery-headed emerald is about 7.5 cm (3.0 in) long and weighs about 3.0 to 3.3 g (0.11 to 0.12 oz).
Purple-bibbed WhitetipUrosticte benjaminiThe purple-bibbed whitetip is 8 to 9 cm (3.1 to 3.5 in) long and weighs 3.8 to 4.2 g (0.13 to 0.15 oz).
Chestnut-breasted CoronetBoissonneaua matthewsiiThe chestnut-breasted coronet is 10.5 to 13 cm (4.1 to 5.1 in) long and weighs about 6.5 to 8.3 g (0.23 to 0.29 oz).
Side by side: Purple-bibbed Whitetip vs Sword-billed Hummingbird · Coppery-headed Emerald vs Sword-billed Hummingbird · Chestnut-breasted Coronet vs Sword-billed Hummingbird
Watch the Sword-billed Hummingbird on live cams
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