Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs Green Thorntail
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Discosura conversii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | Green Thorntail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Discosura conversii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 8.4 cm (3.3 in) |
| Weight | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) | 3.0 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … | Nectarivore visiting small flowers at forest canopy and edges. Forages in groups at flowering trees; … |
| Clutch Size | 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.
Green Thorntail
Pure, sustaining tone with bell-like quality; single clear note ringing firmly then slowly diminishing in open air.
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.
Green Thorntail
Found in foothill and lower montane forest from Costa Rica south through Colombia and Ecuador to Peru. 300–1,500 m.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Green Thorntail
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
Green Thorntail
Purple-backed Sunbeam: males with glittering emerald gorget; brilliant purple back; metallic green crown; females plain green with spots
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.
Green Thorntail
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) with a long, wire-like tail extending to 10 cm total in males. Brilliant green plumage with white rump band. Found in humid forests from Costa Rica to western Ecuador. Nectarivore of forest canopy, hovering at tiny flowers. Fairy-like flight.