Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Purple-collared Woodstar
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Myrtis fanny
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Purple-collared Woodstar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Myrtis fanny |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 7.9 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 2.4 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore of Andean foothills and inter-valley scrub; visits small tubular flowers. Supplements with tiny arthropods. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
Purple-collared Woodstar only
Song & Call Comparison
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Purple-collared Woodstar
Harsh, grating buzz with mechanical quality; abrupt dry trill issued suddenly then stopping in sharp silence.
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.
Purple-collared Woodstar
Found in open habitats, gardens, and scrub from southern Ecuador south through Peru to northwestern Chile. Sea level to 3,000 m.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Purple-collared Woodstar
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
Purple-collared Woodstar
White-tailed Sabrewing: males iridescent blue gorget; metallic green; white outer tail; females green above; spotted white 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.
Purple-collared Woodstar
A tiny hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in arid western Peru and southwestern Ecuador at sea level to 2,500 m. Males have a purple collar. Nectarivore of desert scrub, gardens, and river valleys. Adapted to extremely arid coastal environments.