Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs White-throated Mountain-gem

Lampornis amethystinus compared with Lampornis castaneoventris

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem White-throated Mountain-gem
Scientific Name Lampornis amethystinus Lampornis castaneoventris
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 13.1 cm (5.2 in) 12.2 cm (4.8 in)
Weight 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) 5.58 g (0.20 oz)
Diet Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. Nectarivore of Costa Rican highlands; visits diverse cloud-forest flowers. Supplements diet with small insects and …
Clutch Size 2 2
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only

None

White-throated Mountain-gem only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Song

Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.

White-throated Mountain-gem

Song

Thin, reedy trill with wavering quality; soft rapid notes with gentle tremolo effect given from cover.

Geographic Range & Migration

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Found in montane forest from Mexico south through Guatemala and Honduras to El Salvador. 1,000–3,200 m.

White-throated Mountain-gem

Endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama in cloud forest. 1,200–2,800 m. Resident.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Least Concern

White-throated Mountain-gem

About These Birds

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.

White-throated Mountain-gem

A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama at 1,000-2,500 m. Males have a white throat and chestnut belly. Nectarivore of cloud forest and forest edges. A Talamanca-Chiriquí endemic.

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