Sabrewing

Taxobox
name = Sabrewing


image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Campylopterus largipennis"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Trochiliformes
familia = Trochilidae
genus = "Campylopterus"
genus_authority = Swainson, 1827
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.

The Sabrewings are large hummingbirds in the genus "Campylopterus". They are tropical New World species of the understory and edges of forests, mostly in mountains, and often near streams. The female Sabrewing lays its two white eggs in a relatively large cup nest on a low horizontal branch, usually over a stream.

The sabrewings are very large for hummingbirds, typically 12-15 cm long. The black bill is strong and slightly decurved. The shafts of the male’s two outermost primary flight feathers are thickened, flattened and bent at an angle to give the distinctive feature which gives the sabrewings their English and scientific names (Greek καμπυλοσ "kampylos", "bent", and πτερον "pteron", "wing").

In some species, the male and female plumage is similar, in others, such as the Violet Sabrewing, the sexes look completely different. In several species, the three outer pairs of the tail feathers are white.

The food of sabrewings is nectar, taken mainly from undergrowth flowers such as Heliconias and bananas.

pecies

*Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, "Campylopterus curvipennis"
*Long-tailed Sabrewing, "Campylopterus excellens"
*Gray-breasted Sabrewing, "Campylopterus largipennis"
*Rufous Sabrewing, "Campylopterus rufus"
*Violet Sabrewing, "Campylopterus hemileucurus"
*Rufous-breasted Sabrewing, "Campylopterus hyperythrus"
*White-tailed Sabrewing, "Campylopterus ensipennis"
*Lazuline Sabrewing, "Campylopterus falcatus"
*Santa Marta Sabrewing, "Campylopterus phainopeplus"
*Napo Sabrewing, "Campylopterus villaviscensio"
*Buff-breasted Sabrewing, "Campylopterus duidae"
*Sombre Hummingbird, "Campylopterus cirrochloris" (by most authorities placed in the monotypic genus "Aphantochroa").
*Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, "Campylopterus macrourus" (by most authorities placed in the monotypic genus "Eupetomena").

References

* "A guide to the birds of Costa Rica" by Stiles and Skutch ISBN 0-8014-9600-4
*cite book
last = ffrench
first = Richard
title = A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago
edition = 2nd edition
year = 1991
publisher = Comstock Publishing
isbn = 0-8014-9792-2
*cite book
last = Hilty
first = Steven L
title = Birds of Venezuela
publisher = Christopher Helm
date = 2003
location = London
isbn = 0-7136-6418-5