Amazilia Hummingbird vs Black Metaltail
Amazilis amazilia compared with Metallura phoebe
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amazilia Hummingbird | Black Metaltail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amazilis amazilia | Metallura phoebe |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 14.1 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 5.066666666666666 g (0.18 oz) | 5.7325 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from flowering shrubs and epiphytes. Catches small insects and spiders to meet … | Nectarivore of high Peruvian puna scrub; visits small compact flowers of cushion plants. Gleans tiny … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Amazilia Hummingbird only
Black Metaltail only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Amazilia Hummingbird
Buzzy, high-pitched trill with insect-like quality; rapid sustained vibration barely distinguishable from insects.
Black Metaltail
Harsh, buzzy rattle with percussive onset; abrupt rough trill erupting suddenly then ceasing in sharp silence.
Geographic Range & Migration
Amazilia Hummingbird
Found in arid coastal lowlands of western Peru and Ecuador. Resident in desert scrub and river valleys.
Black Metaltail
Found in the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia in puna and upper montane scrub at 3,400–5,000 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Amazilia Hummingbird
Black Metaltail
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
Black Metaltail
Fiery-throated Hummingbird: tiny; males with multicolored fiery gorget; metallic blue crown; iridescent green above; females duller
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.
Black Metaltail
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the western Andes of Peru at 3,000-4,500 m. Males all black with iridescent purple-blue throat. Nectarivore of puna scrub, Polylepis woodland, and inter-Andean valleys. A Peruvian endemic. Conspicuous at flowering shrubs.