Ala-de-sable Pechigrís
Gray-breasted Sabrewing
Campylopterus largipennis
Song
Gray-breasted Sabrewing
Appearance: A large hummingbird, about 13.5 cm long. The upperparts are shining green, the breast and belly are gray, and there is a small white spot behind the eye. The bill is slightly curved downward; the upper bill is dark, and the lower bill may be pinkish with a dark tip. The tail is mostly dark bluish-black with pale tips.
Habitat: It lives mainly in humid Amazonian lowland forest and foothill forest east of the Andes. It uses primary forest, secondary forest, forest edges, clearings, plantations, and streamside areas. It is usually found at low to middle levels in vegetation, commonly between about 100 and 800 m elevation.
Behavior: It is a resident, not a long-distance migrant. It feeds on nectar from many flowering plants, usually low or mid-level in the forest. It also catches small insects by flying out from a perch. Males may defend good nectar sources as feeding territories.
Breeding: The nest is a small cup made with moss and soft seed material, often decorated outside with lichen. It may be placed like a saddle on a horizontal branch or attached to hanging twigs, often near running water or waterfalls, usually around 1 m above the ground.
Conservation Status: The species is listed as Least Concern.
MALE
Distribution
Occurs mainly in the eastern and southern Amazonian lowlands east of the Andes.
Taxonomy
The Gray-breasted Sabrewing (Campylopterus largipennis)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Caprimulgiformes
- Family: Trochilidae
- Genus: Campylopterus
- Species: largipennis
Vocalization
The Gray-breasted Sabrewing (Campylopterus largipennis) has a relatively simple voice. Its most common vocalization is a short, sharp contact call, often written as “chik” or “trzik.” This call may be given while the bird is perched, moving through the forest, or interacting with another hummingbird.
Another common vocalization is a stuttering series of calls. In this form, the bird repeats the same short note rapidly, sounding like “chik-chik-chik” or “trzik-trzik-trzik.” This type of call is probably used during territorial encounters, agitation, or when the bird is defending a feeding area.
The species also gives a more regular, continuous song-like series. This is not a complex song like that of many passerine birds; instead, it is mostly the same short call repeated rhythmically. Males may use this vocalization from a perch as part of territorial or display behavior.
Gray-breasted Sabrewings may also give brief flight calls while moving between flowers, perches, or feeding territories. These are short notes similar to the contact call, but they are given in flight. Around flowers, they may also produce short feeding calls, especially when another hummingbird is nearby.
