Purple-backed Sunbeam vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Aglaeactis aliciae compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-backed Sunbeam | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aglaeactis aliciae | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 16.2 cm (6.4 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 7.4 g (0.26 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of restricted Peruvian high puna; visits Chuquiraga and cushion-plant flowers. Gleans tiny arthropods. | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Purple-backed Sunbeam
Sharp, buzzy chip followed by rapid trill; emphatic onset launching into rough cascading notes typical of sunbeam.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Purple-backed Sunbeam
Endemic to Peru along the Río Marañón drainage in the arid upper Andes. 2,400–3,800 m. Critically endangered.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Found in montane forest from Mexico south through Guatemala and Honduras to El Salvador. 1,000–3,200 m.
Conservation Status
Purple-backed Sunbeam
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Purple-backed Sunbeam
Blue-capped Puffleg: males with brilliant blue cap and gorget; metallic green body; white leg puffs; females green above; spotted
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
About These Birds
Purple-backed Sunbeam
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) endemic to a small area in the Andes of northern Peru at 2,900-3,500 m. Purple-backed with buff underparts. Nectarivore of montane scrub. Classified as Endangered due to extremely restricted range. One of Peru's rarest hummingbirds.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in mountain forests from Mexico to Honduras at 1,000-3,000 m. Males have an amethyst-purple throat. Nectarivore of pine-oak and cloud forest. Commonly visits feeders in Mexican highland gardens.