Slender Sheartail vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Doricha enicura compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Slender Sheartail | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Doricha enicura | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 7.3 cm (2.9 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 2.4333333333333336 g (0.09 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on floral nectar from forest-edge blossoms, probing with its long decurved bill. Catches small … | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Slender Sheartail
Thin, wavering sibilant trill; soft high buzzing with slight pulsing quality during courtship hover display.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Slender Sheartail
Endemic to the highlands of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador at 1,200-2,500 m. Resident in montane scrub and forest edges.
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
Slender Sheartail
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Slender Sheartail
Costa's Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant violet gorget with elongated sides; metallic green above; females plain green; spotted
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
About These Birds
Slender Sheartail
A tiny hummingbird (9-10 cm including elongated tail in males) endemic to the highlands of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador at 1,200-2,500 m. Males have extremely long, slender outer tail feathers. Nectarivore of montane scrub and garden flowers.
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.