Fire-throated Metaltail vs Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Metallura eupogon compared with Ocreatus addae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Fire-throated Metaltail | Rufous-booted Racket-tail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Metallura eupogon | Ocreatus addae |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.9 cm (4.7 in) | — |
| Weight | 4.8 g (0.17 oz) | 3.0 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Peruvian high-altitude shrublands; visits Ericaceae and Valeriana flowers. Catches small insects near blooms. | Nectarivore of Bolivian and Peruvian cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and bromeliads. Gleans small insects from … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Fire-throated Metaltail
Soft, pure whistle with plaintive character; gentle sustained tone with slight wavering, given at dawn from cover.
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Deep, resonant hum barely audible; extremely low vibration barely perceptible during hovering near high-altitude flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Fire-throated Metaltail
Endemic to Peru in cloud forests and high shrub of the Cordillera Central at 2,800–4,400 m elevation.
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Found in cloud forests of northern Bolivia and adjacent Peru and Brazil at 400–1,400 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Fire-throated Metaltail
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
How to Tell Them Apart
Fire-throated Metaltail
White-throated Mountain-gem: males with glittering ruby-green gorget; metallic green above; white throat; females green above; spots
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet: tiny; males with brilliant orange-gold belly; violet gorget; females green above; spotted buff below
About These Birds
Fire-throated Metaltail
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the Andes of central and southern Peru at 3,000-4,200 m. Males have a glittering fiery-red throat. Nectarivore of puna scrub and cloud forest edges. A Peruvian endemic found in Polylepis woodland and high-altitude shrubs.
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
A small hummingbird (8-10 cm plus tail rackets) found in Andean cloud forests of southeastern Peru and Bolivia at 1,200-2,200 m. Males have rufous leg puffs instead of white. Recently split from Booted Racket-tail. Nectarivore of montane forest undergrowth.