Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Glow-throated Hummingbird

Lampornis amethystinus compared with Selasphorus ardens

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem Glow-throated Hummingbird
Scientific Name Lampornis amethystinus Selasphorus ardens
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Endangered
Length
Wingspan 13.1 cm (5.2 in) 8.0 cm (3.1 in)
Weight 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) 3.1 g (0.11 oz)
Diet Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. Nectarivore of Chiriquí highlands; feeds at flowering understorey shrubs and supplements with insects and spiders.
Clutch Size 2 --
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only

None

Glow-throated 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.

Glow-throated Hummingbird

Song

Deep, hollow resonant churr; low-frequency buzzing sound vibrating persistently through tropical forest canopy.

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.

Glow-throated Hummingbird

Endemic to the western highlands of Panama at 900-2,000 m in the Chiriquí region. Classified as Endangered.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Endangered

Glow-throated 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.

Glow-throated Hummingbird

A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) endemic to the western highlands of Panama at 900-2,000 m. Males have a glowing magenta throat. Nectarivore of cloud forest edges. Classified as Endangered due to extremely restricted range in the Chiriquí highlands.

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