Appearance

Sabrewings (Campylopterus) are large hummingbirds with a strong black bill. In males of most species, the shafts of the two outermost primaries are thickened, especially near the midpoint, and are recurved (forming the "sabre" for which these birds are named). Rufous-breasted Sabrewing is two toned, metallic green above and cinnamon below. There also is a distinct white spot just behind the eye. The tail is broad; the inner rectrices are green, but the outer rectrices are cinnamon rufous. The bill of this hummingbird is relatively short for a sabrewing. Sexes of Rufous-breasted Sabrewing are similar.

Rufous-breasted Sabrewing is very distinctive within its narrow geographic and elevational distribution. There is no geographic overlap with Buff-breasted Sabrewing (Campylopterus duidae) of the tepuis of south central and southern Venezuela and adjacent Brazil; Buff-breasted Sabrewing also is paler below (buffy below, rather than cinnamon rufous as in Rufous-breasted). There probably is elevational overlap with Rufous-breasted Hermit (Glaucis hirsuta) of the adjacent lowlands. Rufous-breasted Hermit has a more strongly decurved bill, with a pale mandible, and its underparts are much duller.

The following description is based on Sánchez-Osés (1999) and Hilty (2003):

Adult: Sexes similar (except that the primaries are not modified in the female?). Upperparts coppery green, more or less glittering, or shining bronze green. Small white or whitish spot immediately behind the eye. Sides of head cinnamon rufous, with dusky auriculars. Underparts entirely cinnamon rufous. Two central pairs of rectrices reddish bronze or golden bronze; three outer pairs of rectrices cinnamon rufous. The shafts of the three outer primaries are thickened and flattened (in the male only?), in typical sabrewing fashion.

Undescribed. Three out of eight specimens collected in November exhibited body molt; no molt was detected on the remaining five specimens (data from the Field Museum of Natural History).

Iris: brown

Bill: black, base of mandible flesh or light brown

Toes: brown

Bare parts color data from Hilty (2003) and from specimens in the Field Museum of Natural History.

Total length: 10.4 cm (Hilty 2003), 10.4-12 cm (Sánchez-Osés 1999)

Bill length: 20 mm (Hilty 2003)

Mass: male, mean 6.8 g (range 6.4-7.0 g, n = 4; specimens in the Field Museum of Natural History); female, mean 5.4 g (range 5.0-5.7 g, n = 2; specimens in the Field Museum of Natural History)