Violet-capped Hummingbird vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Goldmania violiceps compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Violet-capped Hummingbird | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Goldmania violiceps | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 9.9 cm (3.9 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.8666666666666667 g (0.14 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from lowland Panamanian forest flowers. Supplements with insects and spiders foraged from … | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Violet-capped Hummingbird only
None
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Violet-capped Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic ring; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Violet-capped Hummingbird
Found in humid forests from eastern Panama to northwestern Colombia. Resident in lowland forest undergrowth.
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
Violet-capped Hummingbird
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Violet-capped Hummingbird
Lesser Florican: males with black head and underparts; white wings and neck ruff; brown back; females sandy-brown; very dimorphic
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
About These Birds
Violet-capped Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in humid forests from eastern Panama to northwestern Colombia. Green plumage with a violet crown (males). Nectarivore of forest undergrowth and edges. Named after the American ornithologist William Goldman.
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.