Violet Sabrewing

Copyright: monacoeye • Chiriqui, Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Violet Sabrewing
Latin: Campylopterus hemileucurus
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Southern Mexico to western Panama.

The Violet Sabrewing is a spectacular large hummingbird seen regularly in the Chiriqui highlands of western Panama, for example at the Los Quetzales Hotel feeders in May.

The male Violet Sabrewing is predominantly violet with green shoulders and terminal white outer tail feathers. It has a long curved bill, white spot behind eye, and is pretty unmistakeable in Panama.

The female (see below) is greenish above, whitish below, with purple throat only, but the same white in tail feathers as the male and white spot behind eye..