Gould's Brilliant vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Heliodoxa aurescens compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Gould's Brilliant | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliodoxa aurescens | 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 | 5.975 g (0.21 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Ecuadorian and Peruvian cloud forest; aggressively defends Ericaceae patches. Takes small insects for … | 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
Gould's Brilliant
Soft, pure whistle with tremulous quality; gentle wavering note given quietly from shaded perch in dense thicket.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Gould's Brilliant
Found in Amazonian lowland forest from Colombia and Venezuela south through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia to Brazil. 0–1,000 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
Gould's Brilliant
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Gould's Brilliant
Black-backed Thornbill (alt): tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females plain green; spots
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
About These Birds
Gould's Brilliant
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in humid lowland forests from eastern Colombia through the Guianas to Bolivia and Brazil. Green plumage with iridescent golden-green breast. Nectarivore of Amazonian forest canopy and edges. Named after John Gould.
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.