Amazilia Hummingbird vs Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Amazilis amazilia compared with Hylonympha macrocerca
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amazilia Hummingbird | Scissor-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amazilis amazilia | Hylonympha macrocerca |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 13.3 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.066666666666666 g (0.18 oz) | 7.25 g (0.26 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from flowering shrubs and epiphytes. Catches small insects and spiders to meet … | Nectarivore of Venezuelan cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and diverse forest flowers. Catches small insects near … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Amazilia Hummingbird only
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Amazilia Hummingbird
Buzzy, high-pitched trill with insect-like quality; rapid sustained vibration barely distinguishable from insects.
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note repeated rapidly; clean staccato delivery with rising intensity during territorial display.
Geographic Range & Migration
Amazilia Hummingbird
Found in arid coastal lowlands of western Peru and Ecuador. Resident in desert scrub and river valleys.
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to the Paria Peninsula of northeastern Venezuela in cloud forest at 700–1,200 m. Critically endangered.
Conservation Status
Amazilia Hummingbird
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Amazilia Hummingbird
Coucal (Celebes): dark glossy black above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; Sulawesi island endemic coucal
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Gorgeted Woodstar (alt): males with iridescent blue gorget; metallic green body; white pectoral tufts; females green above; spotted
About These Birds
Amazilia Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in arid coastal lowlands of western Peru and Ecuador. Green plumage with variable rusty-orange underparts. Nectarivore of desert scrub, gardens, and river valleys. Adapted to arid Pacific environments.
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm plus elongated tail in males, total 18-20 cm) endemic to the Paria Peninsula of northeastern Venezuela. Males have deeply forked, scissor-like tail streamers. Nectarivore of humid montane forest. Classified as Endangered.