An instantly recognizable bird, the sword-billed hummingbird has the honor of the world's longest bill in relation to body size – in fact, this hummer's bill can actually be longer than its body. The 4-5 inch-long bill is even longer than the combined bill and body length of many smaller hummingbirds, and this bird's Latin name appropriately translates to "sword bearer" or "sword wielder" as befits this amazing appendage.

Common Name:

Sword-Billed Hummingbird, Sword-Bill, Swordbill

Scientific Name:

Ensifera ensifera

Scientific Family:

Trochilidae

Appearance:

• Bill: As long as or longer than the bird's body, black, needle-thin, slightly upcurved
• Size: 7-10 inches long (including bill length) with 7-8-inch wingspan, deeply forked tail
• Colors: Green, white, black, pink, gray, iridescent
• Markings: Dimorphic species. Males are overall dark green with green-black on the crown and back that may show iridescent metallic green, yellow, gold or bronze in bright sunlight. The auriculars are gray or black, and a white spot is easily visible behind the eye. The wings and tail are black. The throat, chin, breast and abdomen are black or green-black and may have minor white spotting, and the undertail coverts are also dark. Females look similar to males but have a slightly longer bill and have blotchy white and dark streaks on the throat and breast, though the amount of streaking can vary. Underparts may be slightly paler than males, and more white shows behind the eye. In both genders, the feet are pink with black talons, and they may show up boldly against the bird's dark body.
  
  Juveniles look similar to adult females but have a distinctly shorter bill. Juvenile males gradually darken until they reach maturity.
  
  Species is monotypic.

Foods:

Nectar, insects (See: Nectivorous)

Habitat and Migration:

These tropical hummingbirds are year-round residents in the higher elevations, most commonly found above 7,000 feet in the Andes Mountains. Their range extends from eastern Venezuela to Bolivia, reaching through Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, and they prefer open forest or forest edge habitats but can be tempted to suitable backyards and hummingbird gardens. These birds do not migrate, but they may move nomadically to follow the best seasons for blooming flowers.

Vocalizations:

While not particularly vocal, these hummingbirds do have a high-pitched, single note "chip" or "tsip" call that has a sharp tone.

Behavior:

Because of the weight of these hummingbirds' lengthy bills, they typically perch with their bill held straight up or at a steep angle to help relieve strain on neck muscles. Similarly, when feeding, they most often visit flowers that have long blooms that hang down, allowing them to probe the flowers easily from underneath with their bills still held at a steep angle.

Unlike most birds, sword-billed hummingbirds cannot preen with their bills, and preen using their feet instead. Because of this behavior, they have developed some of the largest feet of any hummingbirds.

Reproduction:

Because of the isolation of this bird's habitat, little is known about their breeding and reproduction. It is believed that the length of a male's bill may help attract more suitable females, but it is unlikely that the males have anything to do with building the nest, incubating the eggs or caring for the altricial hatchlings. Instead, the female likely takes on those tasks, building a cup-shaped nest of plant down and other soft material bound together with flexible spider silk similar to the nests of other, more well-studied hummingbirds. Two eggs per brood is most likely, and multiple broods may be possible from birds at the lower elevations in this hummingbird's range, where more flowers bloom for longer periods to provide sufficient food to nurture additional chicks.

The incubation periods and post-hatching care periods of sword-billed hummingbirds are not well known and details are unavailable.

Attracting Sword-Billed Hummingbirds:

Hummingbird gardens that include long, tubular flowers with low hanging blooms are especially attractive to sword-billed hummingbirds. Flowers such as datura, fuchsia and passionflowers are especially attractive to these large hummingbirds, and incorporating perches for them to rest between feedings will also entice them to visit. Sword-billed hummingbirds are less likely than other hummers to visit typical hummingbird feeders because of their preferred feeding posture, but when other nectar sources are scarce they will sip from feeders.

Conservation:

Though sword-billed hummingbirds can be common within their range, their distribution is relatively patchy and they are not widespread. They are not considered threatened or endangered, however, and the population numbers are relatively stable. Habitat preservation in the Andes Mountains can continue to ensure this bird's stability.

An instantly recognizable bird, the sword-billed hummingbird has the honor of the world's longest bill in relation to body size – in fact, this hummer's bill can actually be longer than its body. The 4-5 inch-long bill is even longer than the combined bill and body length of many smaller hummingbirds, and this bird's Latin name appropriately translates to "sword bearer" or "sword wielder" as befits this amazing appendage.

Common Name:

Sword-Billed Hummingbird, Sword-Bill, Swordbill

Scientific Name:

Ensifera ensifera

Scientific Family:

Trochilidae

Similar Birds:

• Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas)

Photo – Sword-Billed Hummingbird – Male © stevecush1
Photo – Sword-Billed Hummingbird – Female © David Hemmings