Rufous-breasted Sabrewing

The rufous-breasted sabrewing is 10.4 to 12 cm (4.1 to 4.7 in) long. Males weigh about 6.8 g (0.24 oz) and females 5.4 g (0.19 oz). Males and females are almost identical. They have a rather thick bill that is mostly black with a pinkish or light brown base to the mandible. Their face is cinnamon rufous with a dusky "mask" and a white spot behind the eye. Their upperparts are shining coppery green to bronzy green. Their underparts are cinnamon rufous. The central two pairs of tail feathers are reddish to golden bronze and the outer three pairs cinnamon rufous.

The rufous-breasted sabrewing is found on the isolated table mountains called tepuis where northwestern Brazil, western Guyana, and eastern Venezuela meet. It inhabits humid montane forest, especially its edges, disturbed areas, and adjacent scrubby areas. In elevation it ranges between 1,000 and 2,000 m (3,300 and 6,600 ft).

The rufous-breasted sabrewing's foraging strategy and diet are known only sketchily. It does forage for nectar at all levels of the habitat. At times it defends feeding territories, but up to 20 have been seen feeding in a single flowering tree. It is assumed to also feed on small arthropods like nearly all other hummingbirds.