The great sapphirewing is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs along the Andean slopes and high plateaus of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. It favors humid montane forests, cloud forest edges, elfin forest, and shrubby páramo transition zones with abundant tubular flowers. The species is often seen at forest borders, clearings, and along ravines where nectar resources are concentrated. It may perform local elevational movements following flowering peaks but generally remains within the same mountain systems.
Altitude Range
2500–4000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A very large hummingbird, the great sapphirewing is the sole member of its genus and is notable for the male’s brilliant blue wings. It patrols high-Andean flower patches aggressively, often chasing other hummingbirds. Females are subtler in color and do much of the nesting, building small cup nests on sheltered branches.
P. c. cyanopterus, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia
Temperament
territorial and vigilant
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with strong direct flight
Social Behavior
Generally solitary when feeding and strongly defends rich nectar sources against other hummingbirds. Courtship involves aerial chases and display flights by the male. The female builds a small cup nest and incubates alone, with the male not participating in parental care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are high, thin chips and short buzzy trills given from perches or during chases. The loud hum of its wings is often the first clue to its presence near flowering shrubs.
Plumage
Male with glittering green body and striking, uniformly deep sapphire-blue wings; tail dark and slightly forked. Female green above with buffy to whitish underparts washed and spangled with green, wings duller bluish. Both sexes have a straight, black bill and minimal white markings.
Diet
Feeds primarily on nectar from high-Andean tubular flowers such as fuchsias, chuquiraga, and other ericaceous or bromeliad blooms. It supplements its diet with small insects and spiders for protein, often hawking them in short sallies or gleaning from foliage. Territorial individuals will repeatedly visit and defend productive flower patches.
Preferred Environment
Most often forages at forest edges, clearings, and along shrub-laden slopes in cloud forest and elfin forest. It also visits flowering stands in páramo transition zones and along Andean ravines where blooms are concentrated.
