Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Purple-collared Woodstar

Lampornis amethystinus compared with Myrtis fanny

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem Purple-collared Woodstar
Scientific Name Lampornis amethystinus Myrtis fanny
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 13.1 cm (5.2 in) 7.9 cm (3.1 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 of Andean foothills and inter-valley scrub; visits small tubular flowers. Supplements with tiny arthropods.
Clutch Size 2 2
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only

Purple-collared Woodstar only

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.

Purple-collared Woodstar

Song

Harsh, grating buzz with mechanical quality; abrupt dry trill issued suddenly then stopping in sharp silence.

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.

Purple-collared Woodstar

Found in open habitats, gardens, and scrub from southern Ecuador south through Peru to northwestern Chile. Sea level to 3,000 m.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Least Concern

Purple-collared Woodstar

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.

Purple-collared Woodstar

A tiny hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in arid western Peru and southwestern Ecuador at sea level to 2,500 m. Males have a purple collar. Nectarivore of desert scrub, gardens, and river valleys. Adapted to extremely arid coastal environments.

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