Bronze-tailed Thornbill vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Chalcostigma heteropogon compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bronze-tailed Thornbill | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chalcostigma heteropogon | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.1 cm (5.6 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.65 g (0.20 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of high Andean grasslands and shrublands; visits Ericaceae and Gentianaceae blooms. Gleans tiny 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
Shared Habitats
Bronze-tailed Thornbill only
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Bronze-tailed Thornbill
Deep, hollow churring with resonant bass; prolonged low buzzing audible at range through open forest edge.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Bronze-tailed Thornbill
Found in high Andean grassland and scrub from Venezuela through Colombia to Ecuador at 2,800–4,200 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
Bronze-tailed Thornbill
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
About These Birds
Bronze-tailed Thornbill
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests and páramo edges from Venezuela to Peru at 2,500-3,800 m. Green plumage with bronze tail and purple throat (males). Nectarivore of high-altitude shrubs. The largest thornbill in the genus Chalcostigma.
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.