Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Tapajos Hermit
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Phaethornis aethopygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Tapajos Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Phaethornis aethopygus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 8.2 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 3.0 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectar generalist visiting a wide range of forest flowers; also catches small arthropods by aerial … |
| Clutch Size | 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.
Tapajos Hermit
Rapid, bubbling series of soft notes; pleasant liquid twittering reminiscent of water over pebbles in a shallow stream.
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.
Tapajos Hermit
Found in the Amazon basin in Brazil, primarily along the Tapajós River and its tributaries. Resident in humid lowland forest undergrowth.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Tapajos Hermit
How to Tell Them Apart
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Tapajos Hermit
Small hermit; bronze-green upperparts with orange-buff rump; pale buff underparts with faint streaking; pale supercilium; white-tipped elongated central tail feathers; Amazonian species recently split; orange-buff rump distinctive among small hermits.
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.
Tapajos Hermit
A small hermit hummingbird (10-11 cm) found along the Tapajós River basin in central Brazil. Green plumage with rufous underparts. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth. Recently described as a species distinct from other Phaethornis hermits based on vocal and plumage differences.