Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs Grey-chinned Hermit
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Phaethornis griseogularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | Grey-chinned Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Phaethornis griseogularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 6.9 cm (2.7 in) |
| Weight | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) | 2.4166666666666665 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … | Nectarivore visiting Heliconia, Costus, and banana flowers along forest understory routes. Takes small insects opportunistically. |
| 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.
Grey-chinned Hermit
Sharp, high chip followed by buzzy rattling trill; two-part call with emphatic onset and rough, cascading continuation.
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.
Grey-chinned Hermit
Found along the Andes foothills and adjacent lowlands in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru at 300–1,800 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Grey-chinned Hermit
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
Grey-chinned Hermit
Sooty Barbthroat: dark brownish-gray overall; pale buff supercilium; rufous-washed underparts; white-tipped tail feathers; decurved bill
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.
Grey-chinned Hermit
A small hermit hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in Andean foothill forests from Colombia to Peru at 500-2,000 m elevation. Grey chin, green plumage, and rufous underparts. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth. Taxonomy complex, with several subspecies sometimes treated as separate species.