White-tailed Starfrontlet vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Coeligena phalerata compared with Lampornis amethystinus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute White-tailed Starfrontlet Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Scientific Name Coeligena phalerata Lampornis amethystinus
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Near Threatened Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 14.1 cm (5.6 in) 13.1 cm (5.2 in)
Weight 6.1 g (0.22 oz) 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz)
Diet Nectarivore of restricted Colombian range; visits Ericaceae and bromeliads in humid cloud forest. Supplements with … Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods.
Clutch Size -- 2
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

White-tailed Starfrontlet only

None

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only

None

Song & Call Comparison

White-tailed Starfrontlet

Song

Melodic, two-note ascending whistle; pure first tone rising to brighter second, given with clear projection from perch.

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Song

Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.

Geographic Range & Migration

White-tailed Starfrontlet

Endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, in cloud forest and forest edge. 1,800–3,000 m.

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

Near Threatened

White-tailed Starfrontlet

Least Concern

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

About These Birds

White-tailed Starfrontlet

A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, at 1,800-3,000 m. Green plumage with white outer tail feathers. Nectarivore of montane forest. A Santa Marta endemic found nowhere else in the world.

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.

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family