Ala-de-sable Pechigris
Amazonian Sabrewing (Subsp.)
Campylopterus (largipennis) obscurus
Song
Amazonian Sabrewing (Subsp.)
Appearance: A large hummingbird, about 13.5 cm long. It has a green upper body, gray breast and belly, a slightly curved blackish bill, a small white spot behind the eye, dark bluish-black tail feathers with pale or whitish tips, and broad, curved outer wing feathers that give “sabrewing” its name. Sexes are quite similar, though females average a little smaller.
Habitat: It inhabits humid Amazonian lowland and foothill forest, including primary forest, secondary forest, forest edges, clearings, plantations, and areas near streams. It usually feeds from low to middle levels in the vegetation. Across its range it is mostly found from about 100–800 m.
Behavior: It is a resident hummingbird, not a long-distance migrant. It feeds on nectar from many flowers and also catches small insects, often by flying out from a perch. Males may defend feeding territories and can perch conspicuously on exposed twigs.
Breeding: The female builds a small cup nest of plant material such as moss and soft fibers, often decorated with lichens. Nests are placed low, sometimes around 1 m above the ground, on branches, hanging twigs, or leaves, often near water. The clutch is typically two white eggs; one source reports young leaving the nest at about 22 days.
Conservation Status: It is listed as Least Concern by IUCN.
MALE
Distribution
It is found mainly in the eastern and southern Amazonian and the Orinoquian lowlands, especially east of the Andes.
Taxonomy
The Amazonian Sabrewing (Campylopterus (largipennis) obscurus)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Caprimulgiformes
- Family: Trochilidae
- Genus: Campylopterus
- Species: largipennis
- Subspecies: obscurus
Vocalization
Contact Call: repeated short “chik” or “trzik”.
Song-like Series: Probably the same note repeated more regularly and continuously, sometimes by males from perches.
