Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs Buff-thighed Puffleg
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Haplophaedia assimilis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | Buff-thighed Puffleg |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Haplophaedia assimilis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 11.4 cm (4.5 in) |
| Weight | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) | 5.05 g (0.18 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … | Nectarivore of Peruvian montane forest; forages at Ericaceae and bromeliads. Supplements diet with small arthropods. |
| 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.
Buff-thighed Puffleg
Melodic, two-note descending call; pure warm tones stepping down smoothly, given at regular intervals from 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.
Buff-thighed Puffleg
Found on the eastern Andean slope in Peru in lower montane and foothill forest. 600–2,200 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Buff-thighed Puffleg
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
Buff-thighed Puffleg
Brown Violetear: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic bronze-green above; violet ear tufts; females green with spotted below
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.
Buff-thighed Puffleg
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Peru to Bolivia at 1,000-2,500 m. Green plumage with buff-colored leg puffs. Nectarivore of montane forest undergrowth and edges. Closely related to Greenish Puffleg. An Andean foothill specialist.