Gould's Inca vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Coeligena inca compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Gould's Inca | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena inca | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.6 cm (5.7 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 7.0 g (0.25 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Peruvian and Bolivian cloud forest; forages at diverse Ericaceae and Clusia blooms. Gleans … | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Gould's Inca
Pure, bell-like tone with long resonance; single clear note ringing out in open Andean grassland then fading.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Gould's Inca
Endemic to the eastern Andean slopes of Peru and Bolivia in cloud forest at 1,200–2,800 m elevation.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Found in montane forest from Mexico south through Guatemala and Honduras to El Salvador. 1,000–3,200 m.
Conservation Status
Gould's Inca
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Gould's Inca
Shining Sunbeam (alt): males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic bronze-green; large white tuft; females plain; white pectoral tuft
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
About These Birds
Gould's Inca
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) found in Andean cloud forests of Peru and Bolivia at 2,000-3,000 m. Green plumage similar to Collared Inca. Nectarivore of montane forest. Named after John Gould. Sometimes considered a subspecies of Collared Inca.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in mountain forests from Mexico to Honduras at 1,000-3,000 m. Males have an amethyst-purple throat. Nectarivore of pine-oak and cloud forest. Commonly visits feeders in Mexican highland gardens.