Fiery-tailed Awlbill vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Avocettula recurvirostris compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Fiery-tailed Awlbill | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Avocettula recurvirostris | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.2 cm (4.4 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 4.25 g (0.15 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore with upturned bill tip for accessing pendant Heliconia flowers. Supplements with small insects caught … | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Fiery-tailed Awlbill
High, bright twittering cascade; light rapid notes tumbling freely in animated vocal sequence during display.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Fiery-tailed Awlbill
Found in humid forest edges and clearings from Trinidad and Venezuela east through the Guianas and Amazonian Brazil. 0–600 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
Fiery-tailed Awlbill
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Fiery-tailed Awlbill
Gilded Hummingbird: males with brilliant violet-blue gorget; metallic bronze-green above; white pectoral tufts; females with spotted 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
Fiery-tailed Awlbill
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) with a uniquely upcurved, awl-shaped bill. Green plumage with a fiery orange-red tail. Found in humid lowland forests from eastern Venezuela through the Guianas to Amazonia. Nectarivore and insectivore. The only member of its genus.
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.