Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs Buff-bellied Hermit
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Phaethornis subochraceus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | Buff-bellied Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Phaethornis subochraceus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 10.1 cm (4.0 in) |
| Weight | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) | 4.0 g (0.14 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … | Nectarivore with elongated bill suited to pendant tubular flowers. Gleans small spiders and mites from … |
| 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.
Buff-bellied Hermit
Rapid, light twittering cascade; airy high notes tumbling quickly in animated sequence during courtship display flight.
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.
Buff-bellied Hermit
Endemic to central and southwestern Brazil in cerrado woodland edges and dry forest gallery. Found at 400–900 m.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Buff-bellied 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
Buff-bellied Hermit
Needle-billed Hermit: heavily streaked tawny underparts; brown-olive above; pale supercilium; very fine needle-like decurved bill; streaked 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.
Buff-bellied Hermit
A small hermit hummingbird (10-12 cm) found in dry deciduous forests and cerrado of central Bolivia and western Brazil. Buff-orange belly, green upperparts, and a curved bill. Nectarivore of dry forest undergrowth. An uncommon species of semi-arid habitats.