Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Blue-headed Hummingbird

Lampornis amethystinus compared with Riccordia bicolor

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem Blue-headed Hummingbird
Scientific Name Lampornis amethystinus Riccordia bicolor
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Near Threatened
Length — —
Wingspan 13.1 cm (5.2 in) —
Weight 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) 4.55 g (0.16 oz)
Diet Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders …
Clutch Size 2 2
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only

None

Blue-headed Hummingbird only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Song

Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.

Blue-headed Hummingbird

Song

Melodic, rolling trill with bright bubbly quality; quick cheerful notes cascading pleasantly from prominent perch.

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.

Blue-headed Hummingbird

Found on Dominica and Martinique in the Lesser Antilles. Resident in montane forest and gardens on both islands.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Near Threatened

Blue-headed Hummingbird

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.

Blue-headed Hummingbird

A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found on Dominica and Martinique in the Lesser Antilles. Bright green plumage with a blue head (males). Nectarivore of montane forest and gardens. One of only two hummingbird species on each island.

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