Head to head
Andean Hillstar vs Giant Hummingbird
Andean Hillstar
VS Giant Hummingbird
Both hummingbirds have broken from the family's typical mould in different ways, one through physiology, the other through sheer size.
| Andean Hillstar | Giant Hummingbird | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Oreotrochilus estella | Patagona gigas |
| Size | Relatively large for a hummingbird | The largest hummingbird species in the world |
| Distinguishing trait | Nightly deep torpor for survival | Visible, slow wingbeats |
| Elevation | Above 4,000 metres | A broad range of elevations |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Flight | Standard hovering flight | Capable of brief gliding |
| Habitat | Mountains | Mountains, grassland |
Andean Hillstar vs Giant Hummingbird: common questions
Which one is the largest hummingbird species in the world?
The giant hummingbird holds this record, roughly eight times heavier than many smaller hummingbirds, far larger than the Andean hillstar.
Which one enters deep torpor overnight to survive the cold?
The Andean hillstar does this, dramatically lowering its body temperature and metabolic rate overnight to survive freezing high-Andean conditions, a strategy not documented for the giant hummingbird.
Which one can glide briefly between wingbeats?
The giant hummingbird can do this, capable of brief gliding flight rarely seen among smaller, constantly hovering hummingbird species like the Andean hillstar.