Colorful Puffleg vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Eriocnemis mirabilis compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Colorful Puffleg | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eriocnemis mirabilis | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 10.2 cm (4.0 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.06 g (0.18 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore restricted to Colombian Pacific slope cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and Fuchsia. Supplements with arthropods. | 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
Colorful Puffleg
Thin, wavering whistle with plaintive quality; soft slightly nasal tone trembling gently, poorly known vocally.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Colorful Puffleg
Endemic to a tiny area in the western Colombian Andes near the Río Mechengue at 1,400–2,000 m. Critically endangered.
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
Colorful Puffleg
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
About These Birds
Colorful Puffleg
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the western Andes of Colombia at 1,800-2,200 m. Males have iridescent multicolored plumage and white leg puffs. Nectarivore of cloud forest. Classified as Critically Endangered with an extremely restricted range.
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.