Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Western Wedge-billed Hummingbird
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Schistes albogularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Western Wedge-billed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Schistes albogularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 3.925 g (0.14 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore visiting Centropogon and other understory flowers in Andean foothills. Gleans small insects from flowers … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
None
Western Wedge-billed 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.
Western Wedge-billed Hummingbird
Bright, musical series of ascending notes; cheerful rising phrase with clear quality delivered repeatedly at dawn.
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.
Western Wedge-billed Hummingbird
Found on the western Andean slope in Colombia and Ecuador in cloud forest at 900–2,100 m elevation. Resident.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Western Wedge-billed 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
Western Wedge-billed Hummingbird
White-crested Coquette: males with white crest; iridescent green gorget; females with reduced white crest; green above; buff below
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.
Western Wedge-billed Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in Andean cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador at 1,000-2,500 m. Green plumage with a distinctive wedge-shaped bill and white throat. Nectarivore of forest canopy and edges. Recently split from Eastern Wedge-billed Hummingbird.