Hook-billed Hermit vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Glaucis dohrnii compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Hook-billed Hermit | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Glaucis dohrnii | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.6 cm (5.0 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 6.659999999999999 g (0.23 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore and occasional insectivore; visits heliconia, bromeliads, and Inga flowers while trap-lining territories. | 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
Hook-billed Hermit
Thin, penetrating whistle sustained briefly; followed by rapid buzzing trill, combination unique among syntopic hummingbirds.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Hook-billed Hermit
Found along the Atlantic coast of eastern Brazil from Bahia to Espírito Santo. Resident in coastal rainforest. Endangered; highly restricted range.
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
Hook-billed Hermit
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Hook-billed Hermit
Bronze-green upperparts; cinnamon-rufous underparts with faint darker barring; pale buff supercilium stripe; rufous-buff tail with dark subterminal band; strongly curved bill; vulnerable Brazilian Atlantic forest endemic.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
About These Birds
Hook-billed Hermit
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) endemic to the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. Bronze-green plumage with a hooked bill tip. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth, visiting Heliconia and bromeliads. Classified as Endangered due to severe habitat loss in Brazil's coastal forests.
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.