Tourmaline Sunangel vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Heliangelus exortis compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tourmaline Sunangel | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliangelus exortis | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.2 cm (4.8 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.3 g (0.19 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore visiting narrow tubular blooms of cloud-forest shrubs. Supplements diet with small spiders caught near … | 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
Tourmaline Sunangel only
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Tourmaline Sunangel
Melodic, two-note ascending call; pure first tone rising to brighter second note, given repeatedly with clear projection.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Tourmaline Sunangel
Found in cloud forests of Colombia and western Venezuela at 1,800–3,200 m. Fairly common in its limited 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
Tourmaline Sunangel
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
About These Birds
Tourmaline Sunangel
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Peru at 1,500-3,000 m. Males have a glittering multi-colored throat flashing green, orange, and purple like a tourmaline gemstone. Nectarivore of montane forest edges and Ericaceae-rich habitats.
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.