Sword-billed

Common name: Sword-billed Hummingbird
Scientific name: Ensifera ensifera
Clades: Heliantheini - Brilliants

The Sword-billed hummingbird adults are 13–14 centimeters (5.1–5.5 in) long excluding the bill and weigh 10–15 g (0.35–0.53 oz), with the males being slightly larger on average than the females.

The Sword-billed Hummingbird is a charismatic species of Andean South America. It belongs to a monotypic genus, Ensifera, and is quite unique among hummingbirds. Overall, it is metallic green and bronzed, with a black bill that is longer than the body length and slightly upcurved. In this species, the bill exceeds the body length. As a result of its long and relatively heavy bill, the species usually holds its bill quite upright when perched.

Distribution Andes from W Venezuela through Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to NC Bolivia (W Santa Cruz).