Great Sapphirewing
Pterophanes cyanopterus
Mountains
The Great Sapphirewing is a magnificent and colossal hummingbird with a medium-length, slightly upturned bill. The male’s vibrant green iridescence and blue wings are striking, while the female has greenish upperparts and cinnamon-colored underparts. Compared to most hummingbirds, it has a slow wingbeat and is one of the largest species. It can be found in montane forests and their borders in the Andes, ranging from northern Colombia to Bolivia at elevations of around 2,800 m to the treeline. It is known to visit feeders.
This species can be observed during our bird photography trips in Chocó Andino in Ecuador.
