Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Peruvian Piedtail
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Phlogophilus harterti
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Peruvian Piedtail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Phlogophilus harterti |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 9.1 cm (3.6 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 2.45 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore of Peruvian montane forest understory. Visits tubular flowers; catches small insects gleaned from leaf … |
| 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.
Peruvian Piedtail
Deep, resonant hum barely audible; extremely low-frequency vibration perceptible more as sensation than distinct sound.
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.
Peruvian Piedtail
Found on the eastern Andean slope in Peru in humid foothill forest. 400–1,400 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Peruvian Piedtail
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
Peruvian Piedtail
Calliope Hummingbird: males with glittering rosy-red streaked gorget; metallic green above; females plain green above; short tail
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.
Peruvian Piedtail
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in Andean cloud forests of Peru at 1,300-2,200 m. Green plumage with pale-tipped tail. Nectarivore of montane forest understory. Named after Ernst Hartert. Classified as Near Threatened due to limited range.