Golden-bellied Starfrontlet vs White-tailed Hillstar
Coeligena bonapartei compared with Urochroa leucura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-bellied Starfrontlet | White-tailed Hillstar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena bonapartei | Urochroa leucura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 14.7 cm (5.8 in) |
| Weight | 6.800000000000001 g (0.24 oz) | 9.774999999999999 g (0.34 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Clusia. Takes small insects … | Nectarivore of Peruvian montane shrubs; forages at Ericaceae and Puya flowers. Supplements with small insects. |
| 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.
White-tailed Hillstar
Sharp, emphatic two-note call; high accented first note followed by softer brief second, repeated persistently.
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.
White-tailed Hillstar
Found on the eastern Andean slope of Peru and Bolivia in montane cloud forest. 1,000–2,600 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
White-tailed Hillstar
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
White-tailed Hillstar
Dusky Starfrontlet: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic bronze-green; white flanks; females green above; spotted underparts
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.
White-tailed Hillstar
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in Andean cloud forests of Peru and Bolivia at 2,000-3,500 m. Green plumage with white outer tail feathers visible in flight. Nectarivore of montane forest. Recently split from Rufous-gaped Hillstar.