Bronzy Hermit vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Glaucis aeneus compared with Lampornis amethystinus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Bronzy Hermit Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Scientific Name Glaucis aeneus Lampornis amethystinus
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 10.5 cm (4.1 in) 13.1 cm (5.2 in)
Weight 4.6499999999999995 g (0.16 oz) 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz)
Diet Feeds on floral nectar along a regular trap-line route; also picks small spiders and insects … Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods.
Clutch Size 2 2
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Bronzy Hermit only

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Bronzy Hermit

Song

Deep, rumbling chatter with hollow resonance; low-pitched bursts of notes carrying surprising volume for small forest bird.

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

Bronzy Hermit

Found from Costa Rica through Panama to western Colombia and Ecuador. Resident in lowland Pacific rainforest and shaded plantations below 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

Least Concern

Bronzy Hermit

Least Concern

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

How to Tell Them Apart

Bronzy Hermit

Plumage

Tiny; bronze-green upperparts with golden-bronze gloss on back; cinnamon-buff underparts; pale supercilium; rufous tail with dark subterminal band; pale bill tip; Central American species with overall bronzy olive sheen on …

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

About These Birds

Bronzy Hermit

A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in humid lowland forests from Honduras to Colombia. Bronzy-green plumage with rufous underparts. Visits Heliconia flowers with its curved bill. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth. An important pollinator of Neotropical forest plants.

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.

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