Amazilia Hummingbird vs Sparkling Violetear
Amazilis amazilia compared with Colibri coruscans
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amazilia Hummingbird | Sparkling Violetear |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amazilis amazilia | Colibri coruscans |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 15.1 cm (5.9 in) |
| Weight | 5.066666666666666 g (0.18 oz) | 6.683333333333334 g (0.24 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from flowering shrubs and epiphytes. Catches small insects and spiders to meet … | Nectarivore ranging widely across forest canopy and edges. Defends flowering trees; catches small insects in … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Amazilia Hummingbird only
Sparkling Violetear only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Amazilia Hummingbird
Buzzy, high-pitched trill with insect-like quality; rapid sustained vibration barely distinguishable from insects.
Sparkling Violetear
Deep, resonant buzz with hollow quality; low-pitched churring sound vibrating softly through broad-leaved forest.
Geographic Range & Migration
Amazilia Hummingbird
Found in arid coastal lowlands of western Peru and Ecuador. Resident in desert scrub and river valleys.
Sparkling Violetear
Widespread in Andean highlands from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Found at 1,500–4,200 m.
Conservation Status
Amazilia Hummingbird
Sparkling Violetear
How to Tell Them Apart
Amazilia Hummingbird
Coucal (Celebes): dark glossy black above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; Sulawesi island endemic coucal
Sparkling Violetear
Blue-tailed Hummingbird: brilliant shining coppery-bronze body; glittering violet gorget; pale whitish underparts; blue-glossed tail
About These Birds
Amazilia Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in arid coastal lowlands of western Peru and Ecuador. Green plumage with variable rusty-orange underparts. Nectarivore of desert scrub, gardens, and river valleys. Adapted to arid Pacific environments.
Sparkling Violetear
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) with glittering green plumage and violet ear patches. Found widely across the Andes from Venezuela to Argentina at 1,500-4,500 m. Nectarivore, one of the most abundant and conspicuous hummingbirds in Andean gardens and forest edges.