Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs Peruvian Sheartail
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Thaumastura cora
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | Peruvian Sheartail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Thaumastura cora |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) | 2.4 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … | Nectarivore hovering at low-growing flowers in coastal scrub. Supplements nectar diet with tiny spiders and … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet only
Peruvian Sheartail only
Song & Call Comparison
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
High, crystalline twittering with silvery sheen; rapid light notes cascading brightly in active display sequences.
Peruvian Sheartail
Delicate, purring trill with silvery shimmer; thin high notes given softly near Peruvian Andean flowers at altitude.
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.
Peruvian Sheartail
Found along the arid Pacific coast of Peru from Lima to Tacna. Resident in desert scrub and coastal gardens at low elevations.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Peruvian Sheartail
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
Peruvian Sheartail
Sparkling Violetear (alt): males with deep iridescent violet gorget; metallic green body; iridescent ear patches; females green with spots
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.
Peruvian Sheartail
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm plus elongated tail in males, total 13-14 cm) found in arid coastal Peru. Males have a deeply forked, sheartail-shaped tail with elongated outer feathers. Nectarivore of desert scrub and gardens. A Peruvian near-endemic of coastal Sechura desert habitats.