About Campylopterus largipennis (Boddaert, 1783)
Taxonomic Background
The grey-breasted sabrewing (scientific name Campylopterus largipennis, first described by Boddaert in 1783) is a large species of hummingbird.
Body Length
Adults measure 12.4 to 14.9 cm (4.9 to 5.9 in) in total length.
Weight
Males weigh between 9 and 10 g (0.32 to 0.35 oz), while females are smaller, weighing approximately 7 to 8 g (0.25 to 0.28 oz).
Plumage Sexual Dimorphism
The sexes have nearly identical plumage.
Bill Morphology
The bill is slightly curved downward; the upper mandible (maxilla) is black, and the lower mandible (mandible) is pinkish with a black tip.
Nominate Subspecies Plumage
For the nominate subspecies C. l. largipennis, the upperparts are dark shining green, and the underparts are dark gray.
Post-ocular Marking
All individuals have a small white spot behind the eye.
Tail Feather Pattern
The central pair of tail feathers is green; the remaining tail feathers are bluish black on their inner half and white on their outer half.
Non-nominate Subspecies Traits
Subspecies C. l. obscurus, which is grouped with C. l. aequatorialis, is smaller than the nominate subspecies, and the tips of its outer tail feathers are usually gray rather than white.
Subspecies Distribution
The International Ornithological Congress (IOC) recognizes three subspecies of grey-breasted sabrewing, with the following distributions: C. l. largipennis is found in eastern Venezuela, the Guianas, and northern Brazil extending west to the Rio Negro; C. l. obscurus is found in northeastern Brazil; C. l. aequatorialis ranges from eastern Colombia and northwestern Brazil, south through eastern Ecuador and Peru into northern Bolivia.
Habitat
The species inhabits humid primary forest, humid secondary forest, forest clearings, and plantations.
Elevation Range
It occurs at elevations between 100 and 800 m (330 and 2,600 ft).
