Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs White-bearded Helmetcrest
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Oxypogon lindenii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | White-bearded Helmetcrest |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Oxypogon lindenii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 14.4 cm (5.7 in) |
| Weight | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) | 4.8 g (0.17 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … | Nectarivore restricted to high Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta páramo. Visits sparse Espeletia blooms; supplements … |
| 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.
White-bearded Helmetcrest
Soft, melodic ascending call; gentle pure tones rising gradually in unhurried musical sequence at forest edge.
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.
White-bearded Helmetcrest
Endemic to the Venezuelan Andes of Mérida in high páramo at 3,000–4,600 m. Restricted range.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
White-bearded Helmetcrest
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
White-bearded Helmetcrest
Berylline Hummingbird: males with iridescent beryl-green gorget and head; metallic green; rufous wings; females duller with spotted throat
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.
White-bearded Helmetcrest
A small hummingbird (11-12 cm) endemic to the Andes of western Venezuela (Mérida and Trujillo) at 3,500-4,700 m. Males have a white beard and erect crest. Nectarivore of páramo, visiting Espeletia frailejón. A Venezuelan highland endemic.