Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs White-bellied Mountain-gem

Lampornis amethystinus compared with Lampornis hemileucus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem White-bellied Mountain-gem
Scientific Name Lampornis amethystinus Lampornis hemileucus
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 13.1 cm (5.2 in) 12.5 cm (4.9 in)
Weight 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz)
Diet Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. Nectarivore of montane forest understory and edges; visits Ericaceae and Salvia blooms. Gleans small insects …
Clutch Size 2 --
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only

None

White-bellied Mountain-gem 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.

White-bellied Mountain-gem

Song

Melodic, two-note falling whistle; pure warm tones descending gently, given repeatedly from prominent perch.

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.

White-bellied Mountain-gem

Found in highland forest of Costa Rica and Panama on both slopes in cloud forest. 800–2,000 m elevation.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Least Concern

White-bellied Mountain-gem

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.

White-bellied Mountain-gem

A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama at 1,200-2,500 m. Males green with white belly. Nectarivore of cloud forest and forest edges. One of several mountain-gem species endemic to Central American highlands.

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