Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Violet Sabrewing
Campylopterus hemileucurus
Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 9.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Campylopterus
- Species hemileucurus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.7 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Violet 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 Violet Sabrewing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA s Mexico to Panama.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.7 g, with a wing length of about 7.5 cm and a tail of around 5.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 314,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Violet Sabrewing?
The Violet Sabrewing is a very small bird that weighs around 9.7 g.
Where does the Violet Sabrewing live?
The Violet Sabrewing is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA s Mexico to Panama, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Violet Sabrewing belong to?
The Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Violet Sabrewing eat?
The Violet Sabrewing is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Violet Sabrewing migrate?
The Violet Sabrewing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Violet Sabrewing endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Violet Sabrewing make?
1 real field recording of the Violet Sabrewing — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Violet Sabrewing's range?
The Violet Sabrewing has a mapped global range of about 314,000 km².
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.