Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs Little Sunangel
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Heliangelus micraster
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | Little Sunangel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Heliangelus micraster |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 12.7 cm (5.0 in) |
| Weight | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) | 3.8499999999999996 g (0.14 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … | Nectarivore of misty upper montane forest; forages at diverse epiphyte and shrub flowers. Gleans small … |
| 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.
Little Sunangel
Sharp, emphatic rattle with forceful delivery; rapid dry notes erupting suddenly then ceasing in abrupt silence.
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.
Little Sunangel
Found in Andean cloud forests of southern Ecuador and northern Peru at 2,000–3,500 m. Locally common.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Little Sunangel
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
Little Sunangel
Tyrian Metaltail: males with glittering coppery-purple gorget; metallic bronze-green above; females green above with buff 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.
Little Sunangel
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Ecuador to Peru at 1,500-2,500 m. Males have a small violet gorget. Green plumage. Nectarivore of montane forest. The smallest sunangel species. Uncommon and poorly studied.