Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs Sparkling Violetear
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Colibri coruscans
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | Sparkling Violetear |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Colibri coruscans |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 15.1 cm (5.9 in) |
| Weight | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) | 6.683333333333334 g (0.24 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … | Nectarivore ranging widely across forest canopy and edges. Defends flowering trees; catches small insects in … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
High, crystalline twittering with silvery sheen; rapid light notes cascading brightly in active display sequences.
Sparkling Violetear
Deep, resonant buzz with hollow quality; low-pitched churring sound vibrating softly through broad-leaved forest.
Geographic Range & Migration
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Found in cloud forest of the eastern Andes of Colombia and western Venezuela at 1,800–2,800 m.
Sparkling Violetear
Widespread in Andean highlands from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Found at 1,500–4,200 m.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Sparkling Violetear
How to Tell Them Apart
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Green-headed Hillstar: males with glittering green head; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted buff below
Sparkling Violetear
Blue-tailed Hummingbird: brilliant shining coppery-bronze body; glittering violet gorget; pale whitish underparts; blue-glossed tail
About These Birds
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.
Sparkling Violetear
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) with glittering green plumage and violet ear patches. Found widely across the Andes from Venezuela to Argentina at 1,500-4,500 m. Nectarivore, one of the most abundant and conspicuous hummingbirds in Andean gardens and forest edges.