Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs White-whiskered Hermit
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Phaethornis yaruqui
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | White-whiskered Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Phaethornis yaruqui |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 11.9 cm (4.7 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 of dense undergrowth flowers. Regularly hawks small flying insects and gleans spiders to meet … |
| 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-whiskered Hermit
Gentle, melodic warbling with flowing phrases; notes weaving smoothly in quiet musical progression through dappled forest.
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-whiskered Hermit
Endemic to the Pacific slope of Ecuador and northwestern Colombia in lowland humid forest. Sea level to 800 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
White-whiskered 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
White-whiskered Hermit
Eastern Long-tailed Hermit: forked blue-black tail; iridescent blue-green above; white postocular stripe; buff-white underparts; decurved 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.
White-whiskered Hermit
A medium-sized hermit hummingbird (13-15 cm) found in humid foothill forests of western Colombia and Ecuador. Dark plumage with white whisker-like throat stripes and long, white-tipped tail. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth. A specialist of Chocó rainforest habitats.