The Sword-billed hummingbird or Ensifera ensifera are from South America. They are found in Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. It’s known as the only species to have a bill longer than its body. Their long tongue is adapted to feed on certain flowers. Since their beak is long they groom themselves with their feet. The total length of the beak is 15cm (6in) and it is one of the largest species of hummingbirds.

 

They live in humid to semi-humid upper Montane forest and forest edges and sometimes at patches of shrubs in Paramo. Their behavior is sedentary.  They are a species little known to science, although they are not in danger of becoming extinct.

 

Author: Anthony G 

Published: 3/2010

 

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword-billed_Hummingbird