Sabrewing is the common name given to hummingbirds classified in the genus Campylopterus. The group includes ten species. They are Neotropical birds that inhabit mountainous forests, generally near streams.
Sabrewings are on average 12 to 15 cm long. Although small birds, they are relatively large compared to other hummingbirds. The bill is black, strong and slightly curved. The two outer primary remiges (flight feathers) are thick and curved, giving the wings a generally curved appearance. This characteristic is the origin of the common name "sabrewing" and the generic name Campylopterus, from the Greek kampulos (curved) + pteros (wing).
The plumage of sabrewings is based on brownish-green, cinnamon, gray and combinations. Some species have additional shades of violet, particularly on the head, tail and/or throat.
Sabrewings feed on flower nectar, like most hummingbirds, with a preference for flowers of the genus Heliconia.
Taxonomy The genus Campylopterus was erected by the English naturalist William Swainson in 1827 who listed two species in the genus but did not specify the type. In 1840 the English zoologist George Gray designated the type as Trochilus latipennis Latham, 1790. This is a junior synonym of Trochilus largipennis Boddaert, 1783, the grey-breasted sabrewing. The generic name combines the Ancient Greek kampulos meaning "curved" or "bent" and -pteros meaning "-winged".
The genus contains 10 species:
Image Name Common name Distribution Campylopterus largipennis Gray-breasted sabrewing Amazon rainforest Campylopterus diamantinensis Diamantina sabrewing Brazil Campylopterus calcirupicola Outcrop sabrewing Brazil Campylopterus hyperythrus Rufous-breasted sabrewing Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela Campylopterus ensipennis White-tailed sabrewing northeastern Venezuela and Tobago Campylopterus falcatus Lazuline sabrewing Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela Campylopterus phainopeplus Santa Marta sabrewing Colombia Campylopterus hemileucurus Violet sabrewing southern Mexico and Central America as far south as Costa Rica and western Panama Campylopterus duidae Buff-breasted sabrewing Brazil and Venezuela Campylopterus villaviscensio Napo sabrewing Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru
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