Horned Sungem vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Heliactin bilophus compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Horned Sungem | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliactin bilophus | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 9.6 cm (3.8 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 2.3 g (0.08 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of open savanna and cerrado, visiting small flowers of grasses and shrubs. Catches tiny … | 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
Horned Sungem
Melodic, rolling phrase with rich timbre; warm, musical notes tumbling loosely in pleasant sequence at midday.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Horned Sungem
Found in cerrado, caatinga, and dry open habitats across central Brazil from Maranhão to Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso. 300–1,100 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
Horned Sungem
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Horned Sungem
Green-tailed Goldenthroat: males with glittering emerald gorget and violet crown; females green above; pale buff with green-spotted flanks
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
About These Birds
Horned Sungem
A spectacular small hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the cerrado of central Brazil. Males have two erect, horn-like iridescent violet-blue feather tufts projecting from the sides of the head. Green and white plumage. Nectarivore of cerrado flowers. The only member of its genus.
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.