Photo: Joseph C Boone / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous Sabrewing
Pampa rufa
Rufous Sabrewing (Pampa rufa) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous Sabrewing (Pampa rufa) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 7.1 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Pampa
- Species rufa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.1 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous Sabrewing is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Rufous Sabrewing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous Sabrewing (Pampa rufa) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA sw Mexico to El Salvador.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7.1 g, with a wing length of about 7.1 cm and a tail of around 4.8 cm.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous Sabrewing?
The Rufous Sabrewing is a very small bird that weighs around 7.1 g.
Where does the Rufous Sabrewing live?
The Rufous Sabrewing is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA sw Mexico to El Salvador, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous Sabrewing belong to?
The Rufous Sabrewing (Pampa rufa) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Rufous Sabrewing eat?
The Rufous Sabrewing is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Rufous Sabrewing migrate?
The Rufous Sabrewing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
What sound does the Rufous Sabrewing make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous Sabrewing — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Hummingbird Feeders
How to choose a hummingbird feeder — the two main styles compared, the right sugar-water mix, and how to keep it clean so the birds stay safe. A decision framework with the hummingbird species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Trochilidae
A field guide to the Trochilidae family — 366 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.