Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs Scintillant Hummingbird
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Selasphorus scintilla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | Scintillant Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Selasphorus scintilla |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 6.6 cm (2.6 in) |
| Weight | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) | 2.188 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … | Feeds on nectar from low-elevation Costa Rican scrub flowers. Supplements diet with tiny insects and … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet only
None
Scintillant Hummingbird only
Song & Call Comparison
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
High, crystalline twittering with silvery sheen; rapid light notes cascading brightly in active display sequences.
Scintillant Hummingbird
Soft, sibilant twittering with airy quality; high light notes cascading gently near flowering vegetation.
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.
Scintillant Hummingbird
Endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama at 900-2,000 m elevation. Resident in cloud forest edges.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Scintillant Hummingbird
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
Scintillant Hummingbird
Red-billed Streamertail: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; elongated tail streamers; red bill; females plain
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.
Scintillant Hummingbird
One of the world's smallest hummingbirds (6-7 cm). Endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama at 900-2,000 m. Males have a flaming orange-red gorget. Nectarivore of cloud forest edges and mountain gardens. Weighs only 2-3 grams.