White-tailed Sabrewing vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Campylopterus ensipennis compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-tailed Sabrewing | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Campylopterus ensipennis | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.2 cm (6.0 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 9.866666666666667 g (0.35 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from highland forest flowers in Venezuela. Supplements diet with insects and spiders … | 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
White-tailed Sabrewing
Rough, buzzy chatter with energetic rhythm; coarse notes delivered rapidly with raw buzzy texture from perch.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-tailed Sabrewing
Found in northeastern Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. Resident in humid forest undergrowth.
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
White-tailed Sabrewing
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
White-tailed Sabrewing
Ross's Turaco: brilliant purple-blue body with yellow facial skin and bill; crimson flight feathers; long graduated tail; unique colors
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
About These Birds
White-tailed Sabrewing
A large hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in humid forests of northeastern Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. Green plumage with white outer tail feathers. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth. Classified as Near Threatened in Venezuela; common on Trinidad and Tobago.
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.