About the Sword-billed Hummingbird
The sword-billed hummingbird, also known as the swordbill, is a neotropical species of hummingbird from the Andean regions of South America. It is the only member in the genus Ensifera. Among the largest species of hummingbird, it is characterized by its unusually long bill, being the only bird to have a beak longer than the rest of its body, excluding the tail. It uses its bill to drink nectar from flowers with long corollas and has coevolved with the species Passiflora mixta. While most hummingbirds preen using their bills, the sword-billed hummingbird uses its feet to scratch and preen due to its bill being so long.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Apodiformes |
| Family | Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) |
| Species | Ensifera ensifera |
| Species Codes | swbhum1, SBHU |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Sword-billed Hummingbird belong to?
The Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera) belongs to the Hummingbirds family (Trochilidae), in the order Apodiformes.
How can I identify the Sword-billed Hummingbird?
The sword-billed hummingbird, also known as the swordbill, is a neotropical species of hummingbird from the Andean regions of South America. It is the only member in the genus Ensifera. Among the largest species of hummingbird, it is characterized by its unusually long bill, being the only bird to h...
Where can I report a Sword-billed Hummingbird sighting?
You can log sightings of Sword-billed Hummingbird on eBird (ebird.org) using species code swbhum1, or on iNaturalist.