Amazilia Hummingbird vs Vervain Hummingbird
Amazilis amazilia compared with Mellisuga minima
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amazilia Hummingbird | Vervain Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amazilis amazilia | Mellisuga minima |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 7.3 cm (2.9 in) |
| Weight | 5.066666666666666 g (0.18 oz) | 2.174 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from flowering shrubs and epiphytes. Catches small insects and spiders to meet … | Feeds on floral nectar in forest edges and gardens of Jamaica and Hispaniola. Supplements with … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Amazilia Hummingbird only
Vervain Hummingbird only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Amazilia Hummingbird
Buzzy, high-pitched trill with insect-like quality; rapid sustained vibration barely distinguishable from insects.
Vervain Hummingbird
Harsh, nasal chatter with emphatic rhythm; rough buzzy notes delivered rapidly with coarse texture from perch.
Geographic Range & Migration
Amazilia Hummingbird
Found in arid coastal lowlands of western Peru and Ecuador. Resident in desert scrub and river valleys.
Vervain Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica and Hispaniola in the Caribbean. Resident in gardens, forest edges, and lowland to montane habitats.
Conservation Status
Amazilia Hummingbird
Vervain Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Amazilia Hummingbird
Coucal (Celebes): dark glossy black above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; Sulawesi island endemic coucal
Vervain Hummingbird
Xantus's Hummingbird (alt): males with glittering blue-green gorget; metallic green above; buffy underparts; rufous tail; females plain
About These Birds
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.
Vervain Hummingbird
The second smallest bird in the world (6 cm, 2-2.4 g). Endemic to Jamaica and Hispaniola. Tiny green plumage with a short bill. Nectarivore of garden flowers and forest edges. Named vervain for its preference for Stachytarpheta (vervain) flowers. Weighs less than a penny.