Gorgeted Woodstar vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Chaetocercus heliodor compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Gorgeted Woodstar | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chaetocercus heliodor | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 6.1 cm (2.4 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 2.225 g (0.08 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of subtropical Andean slopes, visiting diverse flowering herbs. Supplements nectar with small arthropods gleaned … | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Gorgeted Woodstar
High, thin whistle barely perceptible; delicate sustained note at extreme frequency, rarely detectable by human ear.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Gorgeted Woodstar
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Ecuador at 800-2,200 m elevation. Resident in montane forest edges.
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
Gorgeted Woodstar
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Gorgeted Woodstar
Vervain Hummingbird: world's 2nd smallest bird; males with violet gorget; metallic green above; females pale below; tiny size
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
About These Birds
Gorgeted Woodstar
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Ecuador at 800-2,200 m. Males have a glittering green and blue gorget. Nectarivore of forest edges and gardens. Named for its spectacular jewel-like throat plumage.
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.