Ala-de-sable Pechigrís
Gray-Breasted Sabrewing (Subsp.)
(Campylopterus (largipennis) largipennis)
Song
Gray-Breasted Sabrewing (Subsp.)
Appearance: A large hummingbird, about 13.5 cm. It has a dark green upper body, gray breast and belly, a slightly curved bill, and a small white spot behind the eye. The tail is dark bluish-black with pale or whitish tips. The “sabrewing” name comes from the broadened, curved outer wing feathers. Colombian/equatorial birds are generally smaller than the nominate largipennis, and their outer tail tips are often more grayish than pure white.
Habitat: It occurs in humid lowland and foothill forest east of the Andes, including Amazonian forest, forest edges, clearings, secondary growth, plantations, and areas near streams. It is mostly a low- to middle-level forest hummingbird, usually from about 100–800 m, sometimes higher locally.
Behavior: It is a resident, non-migratory hummingbird. It feeds on nectar from many flowers and also catches small insects, often by flying out from a perch. Males may defend nectar-rich feeding territories. It often perches quietly on exposed twigs inside forest edges or clearings.
Breeding: The female builds a small cup nest of moss and soft plant material, often decorated with lichen. The nest is placed on a horizontal branch or attached to hanging twigs, often near running water and usually low, around 1 m above the ground. The usual clutch is two white eggs.
Conservation Status: Globally the species is Least Concern.
MALE
Distribution
It is found mainly in the eastern and southern lowlands, especially the Amazonian region and eastern foothills. Its Colombian range forms part of the broader largipennis and obscurus range from eastern Colombia through eastern Ecuador and Peru into northern Bolivia and Amazonian Brazil.
Taxonomy
The Gray-Breasted Sabrewing (Subsp.) (Campylopterus (largipennis) largipennis)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Caprimulgiformes
- Family: Trochilidae
- Genus: Campylopterus
- Species: largipennis
- Subspecies: largipennis
Vocalization
Contact Call: short, sharp “chik” or “trzik” notes.
Song-like Series: The same call note repeated in a more regular, continuous rhythm.
Flight Calls: short notes given while moving between perches or feeding areas.
