Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Copper-tailed Hummingbird
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Saucerottia cupreicauda
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Copper-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Saucerottia cupreicauda |
| 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) | 4.066666666666667 g (0.14 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore specialising in tubular blossoms; supplements the floral nectar diet with tiny insects and spiders … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
None
Copper-tailed Hummingbird only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Copper-tailed Hummingbird
High, crystalline notes in animated ascending phrase; bright clear tones climbing smoothly in morning song.
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.
Copper-tailed Hummingbird
Found in humid montane forests of Colombia at 1,000-2,200 m. A Colombian near-endemic with limited range.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Copper-tailed Hummingbird
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
Copper-tailed Hummingbird
Unirufous Coucal: entirely rich rufous-brown above and below; dark graduated tail; red eye; uniformly rufous plumage; distinctive
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.
Copper-tailed Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in humid montane forests of Colombia at 1,000-2,200 m. Green plumage with a copper-colored tail. Nectarivore of cloud forest edges. A Colombian near-endemic with limited range.