Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs Minute Hermit
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Phaethornis idaliae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | Minute Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Phaethornis idaliae |
| 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) | 2.25 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … | Nectarivore specializing in Heliconia and other curved tubular flowers. Supplements diet with small spiders and … |
| 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.
Minute Hermit
Harsh, grating buzz with mechanical quality; abrupt dry trill issued suddenly then stopping, leaving brief startling 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.
Minute Hermit
Endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil from Espírito Santo to Santa Catarina. Found at sea level to 900 m.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Minute 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
Minute Hermit
Buff-tailed Sicklebill: rich chestnut-brown underparts; dark olive-green upperparts; white postocular stripe; strongly decurved bill matching sickle shape
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.
Minute Hermit
A tiny hermit hummingbird (6-7 cm), one of the smallest in its genus. Endemic to the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. Green plumage with rufous underparts and a short, curved bill. Nectarivore of low forest undergrowth. Classified as Near Threatened due to habitat loss.