Velvet-purple Coronet vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Boissonneaua jardini compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Velvet-purple Coronet | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Boissonneaua jardini | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 9.4 g (0.33 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian Pacific slope cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and Heliconia. Supplements with small arthropods. | 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
Velvet-purple Coronet
Harsh, grating screech with urgent tone; sudden loud rough call given sharply during aerial chase encounter.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Velvet-purple Coronet
Found on the Pacific slope of the Andes in Colombia and northwestern Ecuador in cloud forest. 500–1,800 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
Velvet-purple Coronet
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Velvet-purple Coronet
Rainbow Starfrontlet: males with brilliant magenta-orange gorget; metallic green above; white belly; females green above; 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
Velvet-purple Coronet
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in cloud forests of western Colombia and Ecuador at 1,200-2,400 m. Males have dark velvety-purple plumage with green iridescence. Nectarivore of Chocó cloud forest. A striking, dark-plumaged hummingbird.
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.