Violet-headed Hummingbird vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Klais guimeti compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Violet-headed Hummingbird | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Klais guimeti | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 9.7 cm (3.8 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 2.775 g (0.10 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from lowland and foothill flowers in humid Central and South America. Supplements … | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Violet-headed Hummingbird only
None
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Harsh, emphatic screech with forceful projection; loud rough call carrying across open terrain assertively.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Found in humid forests from Honduras to Bolivia at 400-1,500 m elevation. Resident in lowland and foothill forests.
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
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Purple-crested Turaco: brilliant iridescent violet-purple crest; glossy green mantle; crimson flight feathers; red orbital ring; dark bill
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
About These Birds
Violet-headed Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8 cm) found in humid forests from Honduras to Bolivia at 400-1,500 m. Males have an iridescent violet-blue head. Green body. Nectarivore of forest edges and gaps. Named after the French ornithologist Jules Bourcier, who described it as Guimet's specimen.
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.