The
sword-billed hummingbird (
Ensifera ensifera) is a
neotropical species of
hummingbird from the Andean regions of South America. Among the largest species of hummingbird, it is characterized by its unusually long beak, being the only bird to have a beak longer than the rest of its body, excluding the tail. It uses this to drink nectar from flowers with long
corollas and has
coevolved with the plant
Passiflora mixta. While most hummingbirds
preen using their beaks, the sword-billed hummingbird uses its feet to scratch and preen due to its beak being so long.
Photograph credit: Andy Morffew
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