Buff-thighed Puffleg vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Haplophaedia assimilis compared with Lampornis amethystinus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Buff-thighed Puffleg Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Scientific Name Haplophaedia assimilis Lampornis amethystinus
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 11.4 cm (4.5 in) 13.1 cm (5.2 in)
Weight 5.05 g (0.18 oz) 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz)
Diet Nectarivore of Peruvian montane forest; forages at Ericaceae and bromeliads. Supplements diet with small arthropods. 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

Buff-thighed Puffleg only

None

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Buff-thighed Puffleg

Song

Melodic, two-note descending call; pure warm tones stepping down smoothly, given at regular intervals from perch.

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

Buff-thighed Puffleg

Found on the eastern Andean slope in Peru in lower montane and foothill forest. 600–2,200 m elevation.

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

Buff-thighed Puffleg

Least Concern

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

About These Birds

Buff-thighed Puffleg

A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Peru to Bolivia at 1,000-2,500 m. Green plumage with buff-colored leg puffs. Nectarivore of montane forest undergrowth and edges. Closely related to Greenish Puffleg. An Andean foothill specialist.

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.

More Birds to Explore