Santa Marta Sabrewing

Campylopterus phainopeplus

Rare hummingbird endemic to Colombia’s Santa Marta Mountains. Male is green with a blue throat, and female is green above and mostly white below. Both sexes have a white spot behind the eye and lack copper in the tail. Male could be confused with male Lazuline Sabrewing or Black-throated Mango, whose coppery tails are not always evident. Female is similar to female White-vented Plumeleteer, but has a more conspicuous eye spot and less white on the tail tip. Poorly known and rarely seen in the areas typically visited by birders.

Identification

Rare hummingbird endemic to Colombia’s Santa Marta Mountains. Male is green with a blue throat, and female is green above and mostly white below. Both sexes have a white spot behind the eye and lack copper in the tail. Male could be confused with male Lazuline Sabrewing or Black-throated Mango, whose coppery tails are not always evident. Female is similar to female White-vented Plumeleteer, but has a more conspicuous eye spot and less white on the tail tip. Poorly known and rarely seen in the areas typically visited by birders.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Campylopterus phainopeplus
Authority
Salvin & Godman, 1879
Order
Apodiformes
Family
Trochilidae
Genus
Campylopterus

Range and habitat

Migration
Vertical migration

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

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