White-tufted Sunbeam vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Aglaeactis castelnaudii compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-tufted Sunbeam | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aglaeactis castelnaudii | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.8 cm (5.8 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 7.35 g (0.26 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Peruvian high-altitude scrub; forages at Chuquiraga and Ericaceae blooms. Supplements with small 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
White-tufted Sunbeam
Melodic, pure ascending phrase; clear flute-like tones rising smoothly in quiet musical sequence at high altitude.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-tufted Sunbeam
Endemic to Peru in high Andean puna and scrub, primarily in the Apurímac and Ayacucho regions. 3,200–5,000 m.
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
White-tufted Sunbeam
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
About These Birds
White-tufted Sunbeam
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia at 2,700-4,000 m. Coppery plumage with white breast tufts visible during courtship display. Nectarivore of montane scrub and Polylepis woodland. A Peruvian-Bolivian endemic.
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.