Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Peruvian Sheartail
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Thaumastura cora
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Peruvian Sheartail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Thaumastura cora |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 2.4 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore hovering at low-growing flowers in coastal scrub. Supplements nectar diet with tiny spiders and … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
Peruvian Sheartail only
Song & Call Comparison
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Peruvian Sheartail
Delicate, purring trill with silvery shimmer; thin high notes given softly near Peruvian Andean flowers at altitude.
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.
Peruvian Sheartail
Found along the arid Pacific coast of Peru from Lima to Tacna. Resident in desert scrub and coastal gardens at low elevations.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Peruvian Sheartail
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.
Peruvian Sheartail
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm plus elongated tail in males, total 13-14 cm) found in arid coastal Peru. Males have a deeply forked, sheartail-shaped tail with elongated outer feathers. Nectarivore of desert scrub and gardens. A Peruvian near-endemic of coastal Sechura desert habitats.