Golden-tailed Sapphire vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Chrysuronia oenone compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-tailed Sapphire | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysuronia oenone | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.15 g (0.18 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Amazonian lowland forest, visiting diverse flowering plants. Supplements diet with insects and 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
Song & Call Comparison
Golden-tailed Sapphire
Harsh, emphatic screech with forceful carrying quality; loud rough call projecting powerfully across open terrain.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Golden-tailed Sapphire
Found in humid lowland forests from Venezuela through Amazonia to Bolivia and Brazil. Resident in forest canopy.
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
Golden-tailed Sapphire
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Golden-tailed Sapphire
Senegal Coucal: black head; rufous-brown wings; pale buff-white below; long dark tail; red eye; African savanna 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
Golden-tailed Sapphire
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in humid lowland forests from Venezuela through Amazonia to Bolivia and Brazil. Males have a glittering golden-orange tail. Green plumage. Nectarivore of forest canopy and edges. Named sapphire for its blue 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.