Sapphire-spangled Emerald vs Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Chionomesa lactea compared with Coeligena bonapartei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sapphire-spangled Emerald | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chionomesa lactea | Coeligena bonapartei |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) |
| Weight | 4.333333333333333 g (0.15 oz) | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on floral nectar in forest understory, hovering at Heliconia and bromeliads. Supplements with spiders … | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Soft, liquid notes in gentle descending sequence; mellow flowing tones with subtle variation characteristic of species.
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
High, crystalline twittering with silvery sheen; rapid light notes cascading brightly in active display sequences.
Geographic Range & Migration
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Found in eastern and southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina. Resident in Atlantic Forest edges and cerrado.
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Found in cloud forest of the eastern Andes of Colombia and western Venezuela at 1,800–2,800 m.
Conservation Status
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
How to Tell Them Apart
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Bengal Coucal: dark brown above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; common Asian coucal species
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
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in eastern and southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina. Green plumage with sapphire-blue throat spots. Nectarivore of Atlantic Forest edges, cerrado, and gardens. Named for its sapphire-spangled throat.
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.