Shining Sunbeam vs Amazilia Hummingbird
Aglaeactis cupripennis compared with Amazilis amazilia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Shining Sunbeam | Amazilia Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aglaeactis cupripennis | Amazilis amazilia |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 16.3 cm (6.4 in) | — |
| Weight | 7.540000000000001 g (0.27 oz) | 5.066666666666666 g (0.18 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of high Andean páramo and puna; visits Chuquiraga, Puya, and Ericaceae flowers. Catches small … | Feeds on nectar from flowering shrubs and epiphytes. Catches small insects and spiders to meet … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Shining Sunbeam
Soft, sibilant twittering with silvery quality; high, airy notes cascading gently near high-altitude Polylepis flowers.
Amazilia Hummingbird
Buzzy, high-pitched trill with insect-like quality; rapid sustained vibration barely distinguishable from insects.
Geographic Range & Migration
Shining Sunbeam
Widespread in Andean cloud forests and shrubby páramo from Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia. 2,000–4,300 m.
Amazilia Hummingbird
Found in arid coastal lowlands of western Peru and Ecuador. Resident in desert scrub and river valleys.
Conservation Status
Shining Sunbeam
Amazilia Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Shining Sunbeam
Colorful Puffleg: males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; white belly; females green above; spotted below
Amazilia Hummingbird
Coucal (Celebes): dark glossy black above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; Sulawesi island endemic coucal
About These Birds
Shining Sunbeam
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Bolivia at 2,500-3,800 m. Coppery-bronze plumage that shines with iridescent sunbeam-like reflections. Nectarivore of montane forest edges and páramo shrubs.
Amazilia Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in arid coastal lowlands of western Peru and Ecuador. Green plumage with variable rusty-orange underparts. Nectarivore of desert scrub, gardens, and river valleys. Adapted to arid Pacific environments.