Sword-billed Hummingbird looking for food

Scientific Classification

KINGDOM: Animalia

PHYLUM: Chordata

CLASS: Aves

ORDER: Apodiformes

FAMILY: Trochilidae

GENUS: Ensifera

SPECIES: E. ensifera

Conservation Status

sword-billed hummingbird at Guango Lodge in Ecuador
sword-billed hummingbird sitting on girl's hand
Two Sword-billed Hummingbirds flying
Sword-billed Hummingbird resting on branch
The sword-billed hummingbird is one of the largest hummingbird species averaging around 5.5 inches in length, not counting its beak, and weighing about 0.4 oz.

Excluding their tail, this hummingbird is the only bird on the planet to have a beak longer than its body! With the sword-billed hummingbird’s beak ranging around four inches long, it must use its feet to scratch and preen itself.

Males have a glittery green upper plumage, while females are white with greenish-black spots.

The sword-billed hummingbird is found in the tropical cloud forests of the Andean region of South America, most commonly appearing at elevations between 2,400-3,100 meters. This habitat is preferred due to the number of nectar-producing flowers.
Sword-billed hummingbirds often visit the same flowers every day in consistent patterns. They’re most attracted to bright, tubular-shaped flowers as they have the highest sugar count. During the breeding season, hummingbirds catch small insects as a good protein source for chicks. A nesting female sword-billed hummingbird can catch around 2,000 insects per day!

Flowers known as Passiflora mixta can thank their existence to the coevolving with the sword-billed hummingbird. The corolla tube is so long with these flowers that bees and butterflies cannot access the nectar, which the sword-billed hummingbird can reach with its beak. Therefore, the P. mixta depends on the hummingbird to pollinate, while the hummingbird gets a high-quality food source.
Female and male sword-billed hummingbirds have multiple mates to increase reproductive success. After mating, the male will have no part in making the nest or raising the chicks. Females will lay usually two eggs in nests made from plants and moss to camouflage it. Chicks are born blind and immobile, depending on their mother for food and protection. After only 7-10 days, the chicks are ready to leave the nest!

Their scientific name, stemming from their long beak, Ensifera ensifera comes from the Latin words ensis and ferre translating to “sword” and “to carry.”