Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Cuban Emerald
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Riccordia ricordii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Cuban Emerald |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Riccordia ricordii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | — |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 3.75 g (0.13 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore of Cuban forest and gardens, visiting diverse native blooms. Takes small insects and spiders … |
| 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.
Cuban Emerald
Buzzy, insect-like trill sustained steadily; continuous rapid vibration with little melodic variation over time.
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.
Cuban Emerald
Found in Cuba, the Bahamas, and occasionally southern Florida. Resident in forests, gardens, and mangroves.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Cuban Emerald
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
Cuban Emerald
Escudo Hummingbird: males with glittering blue-green gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
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.
Cuban Emerald
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Cuba and the Bahamas, with vagrants to Florida. Brilliant iridescent green plumage and white breast. Deeply forked tail. Nectarivore of forest, gardens, and mangroves. Cuba's most common hummingbird.