Violet Sabrewing

The Violet Sabrewing is a large, powerful hummingbird found from Mexico south to Panama, and males are strikingly colored in an almost uniform, rich violet-blue that can appear nearly black in poor light but glows vividly in the sun. The wings and back show green tones, and the tail is broad and dark with white corners visible on the outer feathers.

Females are duller, mostly green above with grayish underparts and a similarly broad, white-cornered tail, lacking the male's saturated violet coloring. Its large size and heavy bill allow it to dominate smaller hummingbirds at flowering plants, and its deep, buzzing wingbeats produce an audible hum distinct from smaller species.

Key field marks

• Males: rich, nearly uniform violet-blue plumage, green-tinged wings and back
• Females: green above, gray below, both sexes show a broad dark tail with white corners
• Large size and heavy, slightly downcurved black bill
• Loud, deep wingbeat hum audible at close range

Similar species

• No other hummingbird within its range shows the male's extensive, saturated violet-blue coloring, making adult males essentially unmistakable.
• Females can resemble other large green hummingbirds but the broad white-cornered tail and large size are useful clues.

Habitat

Inhabits humid forest, forest edge, and mid-elevation cloud forest, often near streams and ravines.

Range

Found from central Mexico south through Central America to western Panama, generally at mid-elevations.

Migration

Mostly resident, with some altitudinal movement tied to flowering seasons.

Behavior

Bold and often dominant at flowering plants due to its large size, aggressively chasing off smaller hummingbirds; frequently forages at low to mid-story flowering shrubs.

Voice

A sharp, repeated "chip" or scratchy chattering call, along with an audible, deep wingbeat hum in flight.

Feeding

Feeds on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, including heliconias and other tubular flowers, and catches small insects in flight.

Nesting

Builds a cup nest of plant fibers, often placed under an overhang, bank, or building eave for shelter; the female incubates the typical clutch of 2 white eggs alone.