Sapphire-spangled Emerald vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Chionomesa lactea compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sapphire-spangled Emerald | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chionomesa lactea | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 4.333333333333333 g (0.15 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on floral nectar in forest understory, hovering at Heliconia and bromeliads. Supplements with spiders … | 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
Sapphire-spangled Emerald only
None
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Soft, liquid notes in gentle descending sequence; mellow flowing tones with subtle variation characteristic of species.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Found in eastern and southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina. Resident in Atlantic Forest edges and cerrado.
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
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
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
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
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.
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.