Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Green Hermit
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Phaethornis guy
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Green Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Phaethornis guy |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 11.8 cm (4.6 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 5.416666666666667 g (0.19 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore trap-lining Heliconia patches in humid lowland forest. Supplements with arthropods for breeding protein demands. |
| 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.
Green Hermit
Harsh, screaming trill with urgent intensity; loud, rough notes escalating quickly during territorial disputes near flowers.
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.
Green Hermit
Found in humid foothill forests from Trinidad and Costa Rica south through Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador to Bolivia. 200–1,800 m.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Green Hermit
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
Green Hermit
Western Long-tailed Hermit: metallic green above; buff-white below; forked dark tail with pale edges; white postocular stripe; curved bill
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.
Green Hermit
A large hermit hummingbird (15-17 cm) found in humid montane forests from Central America to Peru at 400-2,000 m elevation. Brilliant green plumage with dark face mask and long, white-tipped tail. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth, visiting Heliconia and Passiflora flowers.