Green-throated Mountain-gem vs Great Sapphirewing
Lampornis viridipallens compared with Pterophanes cyanopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green-throated Mountain-gem | Great Sapphirewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis viridipallens | Pterophanes cyanopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.7 cm (5.0 in) | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.540000000000001 g (0.20 oz) | 10.05 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican highland forest; visits Salvia and other forest-edge flowers. Catches small insects in … | Nectarivore of high Andean cloud forest and treeline; one of the largest hummingbirds. Visits Ericaceae … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Green-throated Mountain-gem
Rapid, mechanical twittering; quick staccato notes tumbling freely in animated sequence above flowering canopy.
Great Sapphirewing
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing rhythm; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Green-throated Mountain-gem
Found in highland forest from southern Mexico through Guatemala and Honduras. 1,000–2,800 m elevation.
Great Sapphirewing
Found in high Andean cloud forests and páramo from Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia. 2,400–3,800 m.
Conservation Status
Green-throated Mountain-gem
Great Sapphirewing
About These Birds
Green-throated Mountain-gem
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) endemic to the highlands of Guatemala and southern Mexico at 1,200-3,000 m. Males have a green throat patch. Nectarivore of cloud forest and pine-oak forest edges. A Central American highland endemic.
Great Sapphirewing
A large hummingbird (18 cm, wingspan 28 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Bolivia at 2,500-3,500 m. Brilliant sapphire-blue wings, green body, and long tail. One of the largest hummingbirds. Nectarivore of montane forest, visiting large-flowered Ericaceae.