Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs Great-billed Hermit
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Phaethornis malaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | Great-billed Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Phaethornis malaris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 11.8 cm (4.6 in) |
| Weight | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) | 6.4799999999999995 g (0.23 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … | Nectarivore trap-lining Heliconia patches in humid lowland forest. Supplements with arthropods for breeding protein demands. |
| 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.
Great-billed Hermit
Melodic, two-note whistle repeated persistently; first note pure and high, second slightly lower, given every few seconds.
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.
Great-billed Hermit
Widespread in Amazonian lowlands from Colombia and the Guianas south through Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 0–800 m.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Great-billed 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
Great-billed Hermit
Festive Coquette: males with elongated black-tipped crest; iridescent green gorget; white collar band; females with plain rufous crown
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.
Great-billed Hermit
A large hermit hummingbird (15-17 cm), the largest in the genus, found in lowland Amazonian forests from Colombia to Brazil and Bolivia. Green plumage with a massive curved bill and long tail. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth, visiting large Heliconia flowers.