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

Shared Habitats

Fiery-tailed Awlbill only

None

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Fiery-tailed Awlbill

Song

High, bright twittering cascade; light rapid notes tumbling freely in animated vocal sequence during display.

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Song

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

Least Concern

Fiery-tailed Awlbill

Least Concern

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

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.

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