Fawn-breasted Brilliant vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Heliodoxa rubinoides compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Fawn-breasted Brilliant | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliodoxa rubinoides | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.9 cm (5.5 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 7.368 g (0.26 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Ecuadorian cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Fuchsia blooms. Gleans small … | 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
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Rapid, bright twittering cascade; light airy notes tumbling freely in animated sequence above tropical blossoms.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Found in foothill and lower montane cloud forest from Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia. 600–2,000 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
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Plain-capped Starthroat (alt): males with ruby gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted 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
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Bolivia at 1,200-2,500 m. Green plumage with a distinctive fawn-buff breast. Nectarivore of montane forest and forest edges. A common cloud forest species across its range.
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.