Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Lampornis clemenciae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Blue-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Lampornis clemenciae |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 14.7 cm (5.8 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 7.25 g (0.26 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore of US and Mexican highland forest; visits diverse flowers at medium to high elevation. … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
None
Blue-throated Mountain-gem only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Rough, nasal chatter with emphatic delivery; series of coarse buzzy notes audible from considerable distance.
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.
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Found from the mountains of southern Arizona south through Mexico to Honduras in pine-oak forest. 1,400–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
How to Tell Them Apart
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Calliope Hummingbird (alt): males with iridescent blue gorget; metallic green body; white pectoral tufts; females green; spotted below
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.
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
A large hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in mountain canyons of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Males have a brilliant blue throat gorget. The largest hummingbird breeding in the US. Nectarivore of mountain meadows and garden feeders. Known for its loud, squeaky call.