Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Rufous Hummingbird
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Selasphorus rufus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Rufous Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Selasphorus rufus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 3.72 g (0.13 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Highly migratory nectarivore visiting a wide diversity of western North American flowers. Supplements with insects … |
| 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.
Rufous Hummingbird
Soft, liquid notes with gentle melancholy; mellow flowing sequence with subtle sadness in quiet forest.
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.
Rufous Hummingbird
Breeds from Alaska south to Oregon. Migrates up to 6,400 km to winter in Mexico, the longest migration relative to body size of any bird.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Rufous 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
Rufous Hummingbird
Green-crowned Woodnymph: males with glittering green crown; violet-blue gorget; metallic green above; females green above; spots
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.
Rufous Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) known for its extraordinary migration, traveling up to 6,400 km between breeding grounds in Alaska and wintering areas in Mexico. Males have a brilliant orange-red gorget. The longest migration relative to body size of any bird.