Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Scaled Metaltail
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Metallura aeneocauda
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Scaled Metaltail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Metallura aeneocauda |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 11.7 cm (4.6 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 5.300000000000001 g (0.19 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore of high Bolivian and Peruvian shrublands; forages at Ericaceae and Lupinus. Supplements with small … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Scaled Metaltail
Rapid, bright chips in cheerful sequence; light staccato notes with buoyant quality delivered during foraging activity.
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.
Scaled Metaltail
Found in high Andean scrub and puna from southern Peru south through Bolivia to northwestern Argentina. 3,000–4,800 m.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Scaled Metaltail
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
Scaled Metaltail
Garnet-throated Hummingbird: males with iridescent violet gorget; metallic green above; garnet-red wings; females green above; spotted
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.
Scaled Metaltail
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Peru to Bolivia at 2,500-4,000 m. Green plumage with bronze-green tail, appearing scaled. Nectarivore of montane forest and páramo edges. Found in Polylepis woodland and elfin forest.