Long-tailed Sylph vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Aglaiocercus kingii compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Long-tailed Sylph | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aglaiocercus kingii | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.7 cm (4.6 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.25 g (0.19 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Andean cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and epiphyte blooms. Supplements diet with small … | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Long-tailed Sylph only
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Long-tailed Sylph
Melodic, flowing phrase with rich character; warm notes weaving in relaxed sequence typical of dawn chorus activity.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Long-tailed Sylph
Widespread in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,000–2,800 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
Long-tailed Sylph
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Long-tailed Sylph
Rufous Hummingbird: males with brilliant orange-rufous body; iridescent red gorget; females green above; rufous-washed below
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
About These Birds
Long-tailed Sylph
A spectacular hummingbird (10 cm body + 13 cm tail in males) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Bolivia at 1,500-3,000 m. Males have extraordinarily long, iridescent violet-blue outer tail feathers. Nectarivore of montane forest edges. A cloud forest icon.
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.