Rainbow-bearded Thornbill vs Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Chalcostigma herrani compared with Coeligena bonapartei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rainbow-bearded Thornbill | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chalcostigma herrani | Coeligena bonapartei |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.5 cm (5.3 in) | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) |
| Weight | 6.183333333333334 g (0.22 oz) | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan montane scrub; visits diverse small flowers. Supplements with small insects. | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill only
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet only
Song & Call Comparison
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
Thin, reedy trill with wavering quality; soft rapid notes with gentle tremolo effect, given from dense cover.
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
High, crystalline twittering with silvery sheen; rapid light notes cascading brightly in active display sequences.
Geographic Range & Migration
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
Found in high Andean páramo and shrubby forest edge from Colombia south to Ecuador and Peru. 2,600–4,400 m.
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Found in cloud forest of the eastern Andes of Colombia and western Venezuela at 1,800–2,800 m.
Conservation Status
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
How to Tell Them Apart
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
Snowcap: males with brilliant iridescent blue-violet gorget; snow-white crown; metallic green above; females green above; spotted below
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Green-headed Hillstar: males with glittering green head; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted buff below
About These Birds
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean páramo from Colombia to Ecuador at 2,800-4,000 m. Males have a spectacular rainbow-colored beard of iridescent feathers ranging from green through gold to purple. Nectarivore of páramo flowering shrubs.
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Colombia at 1,800-3,200 m. Males have a golden-yellow belly and iridescent green forehead. Nectarivore of montane forest and forest edges.