Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Grey-tailed Mountain-gem

Lampornis amethystinus compared with Lampornis cinereicauda

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem Grey-tailed Mountain-gem
Scientific Name Lampornis amethystinus Lampornis cinereicauda
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 13.1 cm (5.2 in) 12.4 cm (4.9 in)
Weight 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) 5.425 g (0.19 oz)
Diet Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. Nectarivore of Costa Rican and Panamanian cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans small …
Clutch Size 2 2
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only

None

Grey-tailed 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.

Grey-tailed Mountain-gem

Song

Sharp, crackling chatter with percussive quality; rapid dry notes delivered forcefully near active territory boundary.

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.

Grey-tailed Mountain-gem

Found in highland forest of Costa Rica, primarily the Pacific slope Talamanca range. 1,200–2,400 m.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Least Concern

Grey-tailed 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.

Grey-tailed Mountain-gem

A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the Talamanca highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama at 1,400-2,500 m. Males have green plumage with a grey tail. Nectarivore of cloud forest. Closely related to Purple-throated Mountain-gem.

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