The lazuline sabrewing is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.
Region
Northern Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs on humid Andean slopes and foothills in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. It favors forest edges, clearings, second-growth thickets, and shaded coffee or cacao plantations. Often found near streams and along ravines where flowering shrubs are abundant. It also frequents gardens with suitable nectar plants and feeders in montane towns.
Altitude Range
400–1800 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A large hummingbird of the Northern Andes, the lazuline sabrewing is named for the rich, lazuli-blue sheen of the male’s plumage. Males have broadened outer primaries—the “sabre” wings—used in display flights. It aggressively defends rich flower patches and readily visits garden feeders within its montane range. Like many hummingbirds, it supplements nectar with tiny insects for protein.
Temperament
territorial and bold
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering
Social Behavior
Typically solitary around rich nectar sources, with males vigorously defending feeding territories. Courtship involves display flights that emphasize the broadened primaries. Nests are small cup-shaped structures of plant down bound with spider silk, usually placed on horizontal branches over stream banks or in shaded thickets.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are high, thin chips and buzzy trills delivered from shaded perches. Males may give rapid series of sharp notes during territorial chases and display flights.
Plumage
Male shows glossy lazuline-blue on throat and underparts with green upperparts and a slightly forked tail tipped white. Female is greener above with grayish underparts and a speckled throat, the tail also showing pale tips. Both sexes have iridescent tones that shift with light and the male’s outer primaries appear broadened (sabre-like).
Diet
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of tubular flowers, including shrubs and understory plants such as Inga, Heliconia, and other native blossoms. It also gleans and hawks tiny insects and spiders to meet protein needs, especially during breeding. Individuals often return repeatedly to productive flower patches they defend.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest edges, in second-growth, riparian thickets, and semi-open montane gardens. It frequently visits feeders in rural and montane urban areas when natural blooms are scarce.
