Violet Sabrewing vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Campylopterus hemileucurus compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Violet Sabrewing | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Campylopterus hemileucurus | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.1 cm (5.9 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 11.025 g (0.39 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Large sabrewing; feeds on nectar from Heliconia and bromeliads in humid forest. Supplements with insects … | 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
Violet Sabrewing
Deep, resonant trill with powerful bass quality; low-frequency churring vibrating through dense forest canopy.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Violet Sabrewing
Found in humid montane forests from southern Mexico to Panama at 500-2,500 m. Resident in cloud 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
Violet Sabrewing
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
About These Birds
Violet Sabrewing
A large hummingbird (14-15 cm), the largest hummingbird in Central America. Males have brilliant violet-purple plumage with white outer tail feathers. Found in humid montane forests from Mexico to Panama. Nectarivore of cloud forest undergrowth, visiting Heliconia and banana flowers.
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.