Sabrewing
Encyclopedia
The Sabrewings are relatively large Neotropical hummingbird
s in the genus Campylopterus. They are species of the understory and edges of forests, mostly in mountains, and often near streams. The female Sabrewing lays its two white eggs in a relatively large cup nest on a low horizontal branch, usually over a stream.
The sabrewings are very large for hummingbirds, typically 12–15 cm long. The black bill is strong and slightly decurved. The shafts of the male’s two outermost primary flight feathers are thickened, flattened and bent at an angle to give the distinctive feature which gives the sabrewings their English
and scientific names (Greek
καμπυλοσ kampylos, "bent", and πτερον pteron, "wing").
In some species, the male and female plumage is similar, in others, such as the Violet Sabrewing
, the sexes look completely different. In several species, the three outer pairs of the tail feathers are broadly tipped white.
The food of sabrewings is nectar, taken mainly from undergrowth flowers such as Heliconia
and banana
s.
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
s in the genus Campylopterus. They are species of the understory and edges of forests, mostly in mountains, and often near streams. The female Sabrewing lays its two white eggs in a relatively large cup nest on a low horizontal branch, usually over a stream.
The sabrewings are very large for hummingbirds, typically 12–15 cm long. The black bill is strong and slightly decurved. The shafts of the male’s two outermost primary flight feathers are thickened, flattened and bent at an angle to give the distinctive feature which gives the sabrewings their English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and scientific names (Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
καμπυλοσ kampylos, "bent", and πτερον pteron, "wing").
In some species, the male and female plumage is similar, in others, such as the Violet Sabrewing
Violet Sabrewing
The Violet Sabrewing, Campylopterus hemileucurus,is a very large hummingbird native to southern Mexico and Central America as far south as Costa Rica and western Panama....
, the sexes look completely different. In several species, the three outer pairs of the tail feathers are broadly tipped white.
The food of sabrewings is nectar, taken mainly from undergrowth flowers such as Heliconia
Heliconia
Heliconia, derived from the Greek word helikonios, is a genus of about 100 to 200 species of flowering plants native to the tropical Americas and the Pacific Ocean islands west to Indonesia. Many species of Heliconia are found in rainforests or tropical wet forests of these regions...
and banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s.
Species
- Wedge-tailed SabrewingWedge-tailed SabrewingThe Wedge-tailed Sabrewing is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico....
, Campylopterus curvipennis - Long-tailed SabrewingLong-tailed SabrewingThe Long-tailed Sabrewing is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. It is often considered a subspecies of the Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, but is larger and longer-tailed...
, Campylopterus excellens - Gray-breasted Sabrewing, Campylopterus largipennis
- Rufous SabrewingRufous SabrewingThe Rufous Sabrewing is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes and heavily degraded former forest....
, Campylopterus rufus - Violet SabrewingViolet SabrewingThe Violet Sabrewing, Campylopterus hemileucurus,is a very large hummingbird native to southern Mexico and Central America as far south as Costa Rica and western Panama....
, Campylopterus hemileucurus - Rufous-breasted SabrewingRufous-breasted SabrewingThe Rufous-Breasted Sabrewing is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
, Campylopterus hyperythrus - White-tailed SabrewingWhite-tailed SabrewingThe White-tailed Sabrewing is a large hummingbird that breeds in northeastern Venezuela and Tobago. It was thought to have become extinct in Tobago after hurricane Flora in 1963, but the population has now largely recovered. This species is now featured on Tobago’s environmental posters under the...
, Campylopterus ensipennis - Lazuline SabrewingLazuline SabrewingThe Lazuline Sabrewing is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10...
, Campylopterus falcatus - Santa Marta SabrewingSanta Marta SabrewingThe Santa Marta Sabrewing is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. It is found only in Colombia....
, Campylopterus phainopeplus - Napo SabrewingNapo SabrewingThe Napo Sabrewing is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests....
, Campylopterus villaviscensio - Buff-breasted SabrewingBuff-breasted SabrewingThe Buff-Breasted Sabrewing is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Brazil and Venezuela....
, Campylopterus duidae - Sombre HummingbirdSombre HummingbirdThe Sombre Hummingbird is the only species in the genus Aphantochroa. It is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found only in Brazil....
, Campylopterus cirrochloris (by most authorities placed in the monotypic genus Aphantochroa). - Swallow-tailed HummingbirdSwallow-tailed HummingbirdThe Swallow-tailed Hummingbird is a species in the hummingbird family , found mainly in east-central South America. Most authorities place it in the monotypic genus Eupetomena, although some place it in Campylopterus based on song and the thick shafts of the males' first primaries...
, Campylopterus macrourus (by most authorities placed in the monotypic genus Eupetomena).