The white-tailed sabrewing (Campylopterus ensipennis) is a Near Threatened species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found on Tobago and in Venezuela.
Taxonomy and systematics
The white-tailed sabrewing is monotypic.
The shafts of the outer flight feathers are thickened and flattened which gives the distinctive feature of the sabrewings their English and genus names. In this case, both parts of the scientific name refer to this feature, Campylopterus and ensipennis being derived from the Greek and Latin respectively for "bent wing".
Distribution and habitat
The white-tailed sabrewing is found in two locations in Venezuela, the Cordillera de Caripe and the Paria Peninsula, and also on Tobago. The Tobago population was almost extirpated by Hurricane Flora in 1963 but it appears to have somewhat recovered. The species inhabits montane forest, mature secondary forest, and plantations, especially those of coffee. In elevation it ranges between but on the mainland is most common between and all nest records on Tobago are between . by hawking from perches.