Scissor-tailed Hummingbird vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Hylonympha macrocerca compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Scissor-tailed Hummingbird | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hylonympha macrocerca | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.3 cm (5.2 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 7.25 g (0.26 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Venezuelan cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and diverse forest flowers. Catches small insects near … | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird only
None
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note repeated rapidly; clean staccato delivery with rising intensity during territorial display.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to the Paria Peninsula of northeastern Venezuela in cloud forest at 700–1,200 m. Critically endangered.
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
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
About These Birds
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.
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.