Colibrí Picoespada/Sword-billed Hummingbird/Ensifera ensifera

Nombre en español: Colibrí Picoespada

Nombre cientifico: Ensifera ensifera

Nombre en ingles: Sword-billed Hummingbird

Familia: Trochilidae

Canto: Peter Boesman

El colibrí picoespada (Ensifera ensifera) es una especie de colibrí que habita en los Andes (desde Venezuela hasta Bolivia), presentando un pico y una lengua larga como adaptación a su dieta a base del néctar de cierto tipo de flores, como la Passiflora mixta.

La longitud total (incluyendo al pico y los pies) llega cerca a 15 cm y el pájaro puede llegar a pesar 12 gramos siendo de apariencia grande.

Este colibrí presenta el pico de ave más largo del mundo en relación con la longitud total de su cuerpo.

Sword-billed hummingbird

(Ensifera ensifera) is a species of hummingbird from South America and the sole member of the genus Ensifera. It is found in the higher elevations (mostly above 2500 meters) in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Etymology The genus and species name ensifera («sword-wielder») is derived from Latin ensis (sword) and ferre (to carry), and refers to this hummingbird’s remarkable beak length. Description It is noted as the only species of bird to have a bill longer than the rest of its body. This adaptation is to feed on flowers with long corollas such as Passiflora mixta. The tongue is therefore also unusually long. Since the sword-billed hummingbird’s beak is very long, it preens itself with its feet. From base of the bill to the tail tip, this species averages 14 cm (5.5 in) in length, not counting the 10 cm (4 in)+ bill. This hummingbird weighs about 10–15 g (0.35–0.53 oz) and is one of the largest species of hummingbirds.