Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs White-sided Hillstar
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Oreotrochilus leucopleurus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | White-sided Hillstar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Oreotrochilus leucopleurus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 13.6 cm (5.4 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 6.6 g (0.23 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore foraging above treeline at sparse Ericaceae and Chuquiraga patches. Supplements with small arthropods. |
| 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.
White-sided Hillstar
Melodic, ascending phrase with hopeful character; smooth pure tones rising steadily in clear musical progression at dawn.
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-sided Hillstar
Found in the Andes and Patagonian steppe of Argentina and Chile from 1,000–4,000 m. Partly migratory.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
White-sided Hillstar
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-sided Hillstar
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in the southern Andes from Bolivia to Argentina at 2,500-4,500 m. Green plumage with white flanks. Nectarivore of puna grasslands and rocky slopes. Enters torpor nightly to survive cold Andean nights. Southern Andean near-endemic.