Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs Mexican Sheartail
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Doricha eliza
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | Mexican Sheartail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Doricha eliza |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 7.7 cm (3.0 in) |
| Weight | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) | 2.5 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … | Nectarivore of dry scrub and coastal dunes, visiting Agave and Ipomoea flowers. Supplements with insects … |
| 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.
Mexican Sheartail
Melodic, three-note ascending call; pure warm tones stepping upward smoothly, given clearly from tall perch.
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.
Mexican Sheartail
Endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico and Cozumel Island. Classified as Near Threatened due to habitat destruction.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Mexican Sheartail
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
Mexican Sheartail
Xantus's Hummingbird: males with glittering green gorget; metallic green above; rufous tail; cinnamon underparts; sexually dimorphic
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.
Mexican Sheartail
A tiny hummingbird (8-9 cm) endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico and Cozumel Island. Males have elongated, slender outer tail feathers. Nectarivore of coastal scrub and gardens. Classified as Near Threatened due to habitat destruction in its limited range.