Red-billed Emerald vs Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Chlorostilbon gibsoni compared with Coeligena bonapartei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red-billed Emerald | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlorostilbon gibsoni | Coeligena bonapartei |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 9.9 cm (3.9 in) | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) |
| Weight | 3.4 g (0.12 oz) | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on floral nectar in lowland Venezuelan scrub and forest. Gleans insects and spiders to … | 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
Red-billed Emerald
Harsh, buzzy chatter with urgency; rough staccato notes escalating quickly during competitive flower territory dispute.
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
High, crystalline twittering with silvery sheen; rapid light notes cascading brightly in active display sequences.
Geographic Range & Migration
Red-billed Emerald
Found in dry valleys and scrub of Colombia and Venezuela. Resident in arid and semi-arid habitats at low elevations.
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Found in cloud forest of the eastern Andes of Colombia and western Venezuela at 1,800–2,800 m.
Conservation Status
Red-billed Emerald
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
How to Tell Them Apart
Red-billed Emerald
Versicolored Emerald: males with glittering multicolored gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spots
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
Red-billed Emerald
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in dry valleys and scrub of Colombia and Venezuela. Bright green plumage with a red bill with dark tip. Nectarivore of arid and semi-arid habitats. Named after the naturalist William Gibson.
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.