Black-chinned Hummingbird vs Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Archilochus alexandri compared with Coeligena bonapartei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-chinned Hummingbird | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus alexandri | Coeligena bonapartei |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) |
| Weight | 3.6399999999999997 g (0.13 oz) | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) |
| Diet | Generalist nectarivore visiting a wide variety of western North American flowers. Gleans insects and spiders … | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Rapid, animated twittering with bright quality; light staccato notes cascading freely in cheerful sequence.
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
High, crystalline twittering with silvery sheen; rapid light notes cascading brightly in active display sequences.
Geographic Range & Migration
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Found in western North America from British Columbia to Mexico. Breeds in open woodland; winters in western Mexico.
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Found in cloud forest of the eastern Andes of Colombia and western Venezuela at 1,800–2,800 m.
Conservation Status
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
How to Tell Them Apart
Black-chinned Hummingbird
White-eared Hummingbird: males with brilliant violet-blue gorget; metallic green above; white postocular stripe; females green; spotted
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Green-headed Hillstar: males with glittering green head; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted buff below
About These Birds
Black-chinned Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in western North America from British Columbia to Mexico. Males have a black chin with iridescent purple border. Nectarivore of open woodland, gardens, and desert oases. Common at feeders across the western US during breeding season.
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Colombia at 1,800-3,200 m. Males have a golden-yellow belly and iridescent green forehead. Nectarivore of montane forest and forest edges.