Rufous-webbed Brilliant vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Heliodoxa branickii compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rufous-webbed Brilliant | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliodoxa branickii | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.5 cm (4.9 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.54 g (0.20 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Peruvian montane forest; visits Ericaceae and Heliconia flowers. Catches small insects in aerial … | 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
Rufous-webbed Brilliant
Sharp, mechanical clicks in rapid succession; dry staccato notes forming even sequence, distinctly clicking in character.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Rufous-webbed Brilliant
Found in cloud forest on the eastern Andean slope of Peru and Bolivia. 1,000–2,400 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
Rufous-webbed Brilliant
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Rufous-webbed Brilliant
Sword-billed Hummingbird (alt): males with glittering purple gorget; extremely long bill; metallic green above; females green with 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
Rufous-webbed Brilliant
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in Andean cloud forests of Peru and Bolivia at 1,500-2,800 m. Green plumage with rufous webbing on wing feathers visible in flight. Nectarivore of montane forest. Named for the rufous inner web of flight feathers.
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.