Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs Butterfly Coquette
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Lophornis verreauxii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | Butterfly Coquette |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Lophornis verreauxii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 8.6 cm (3.4 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 of humid forest clearings; compact size allows access to small flowers. Gleans tiny arthropods … |
| 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.
Butterfly Coquette
Buzzy, insect-like trill sustained briefly; continuous high-frequency vibration then sudden silence, disorienting in quality.
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.
Butterfly Coquette
Found on western Andean slope and Pacific lowlands of Colombia and Ecuador. Sea level to 1,200 m.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Butterfly Coquette
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
Butterfly Coquette
Amethyst Woodstar: males with glittering teal-blue gorget and amethyst crown; metallic bronze-green above; females 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.
Butterfly Coquette
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) found in humid forests from Venezuela and Colombia to Peru and Bolivia. Males have wispy green cheek plumes and a white breast band. Nectarivore of forest edges and clearings. Named for the French ornithologists Jules and Edouard Verreaux.