Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs Merida Sunangel
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Heliangelus spencei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | Merida Sunangel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Heliangelus spencei |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 11.7 cm (4.6 in) |
| Weight | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) | 5.0 g (0.18 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … | Nectarivore defending territories around productive Ericaceae patches. Supplements with tiny insects and spiders from foliage. |
| 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.
Merida Sunangel
Rough, buzzy trill with scratchy edge; coarse sustained notes with raw texture carrying across dense tropical scrub.
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.
Merida Sunangel
Endemic to the Mérida Andes of Venezuela in cloud forest and páramo edge. 2,200–3,400 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Merida 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
Merida Sunangel
Viridian Metaltail: brilliant metallic green above; glittering violet-blue gorget; white postocular stripe; 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.
Merida Sunangel
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the Andes of western Venezuela (Mérida) at 2,400-3,500 m. Males have a glittering purple throat. Green plumage. Nectarivore of páramo and cloud forest edges. A range-restricted Venezuelan endemic.