Racket-tipped Thorntail vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Discosura longicaudus compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Racket-tipped Thorntail | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Discosura longicaudus | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.6 cm (3.4 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.35 g (0.12 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Amazonian forest canopy. Forages at Inga and other legume flowers; supplements with small … | 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
Racket-tipped Thorntail
Melodic, ascending scale of clear notes; bright flute-like tones climbing smoothly, characteristic of morning territorial song.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Racket-tipped Thorntail
Found in humid lowland forest from Colombia and Venezuela east through the Guianas and Amazonian Brazil. 0–600 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
Racket-tipped Thorntail
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
About These Birds
Racket-tipped Thorntail
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm plus long tail rackets in males) found in humid lowland forests from Venezuela through the Guianas and Amazonia. Males have elongated outer tail feathers with distinctive racket-shaped tips. Nectarivore of forest canopy.
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.