Greenish Puffleg vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Haplophaedia aureliae compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Greenish Puffleg | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Haplophaedia aureliae | 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 | 5.666666666666667 g (0.20 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Andean cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and epiphyte flowers in wet mossy habitats. Catches … | 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
Greenish Puffleg
Thin, sibilant twittering with silver quality; high airy notes cascading softly near flowering canopy trees.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Greenish Puffleg
Found on both Andean slopes from Panama south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 800–2,800 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
Greenish Puffleg
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Greenish Puffleg
Sparkling Violetear: males with brilliant iridescent blue gorget; metallic green body; violet ear patch; females green with spots below
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
About These Birds
Greenish Puffleg
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Peru at 900-2,500 m. Green plumage with fluffy white leg puffs. Nectarivore of montane forest understory. Named puffleg for the distinctive cotton-like tufts on the legs.
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.