Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Rufous-vented Whitetip
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Urosticte ruficrissa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Rufous-vented Whitetip |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Urosticte ruficrissa |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 11.4 cm (4.5 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 4.15 g (0.15 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore of Ecuadorian and Peruvian montane forest; forages at Ericaceae and Fuchsia. Takes small 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-vented Whitetip
Pure, bell-like tones in descending sequence; clear musical notes stepping down smoothly with long resonant quality.
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-vented Whitetip
Found on the eastern Andean slope of Ecuador in cloud forest and forest edges. 800–1,800 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Rufous-vented Whitetip
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-vented Whitetip
Glittering Starfrontlet: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted 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.
Rufous-vented Whitetip
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Peru at 1,500-2,500 m. Green plumage with rufous vent and white-tipped tail. Nectarivore of montane forest. Closely related to Purple-bibbed Whitetip. Uncommon.