Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Fiery-throated Hummingbird

Lampornis amethystinus compared with Panterpe insignis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem Fiery-throated Hummingbird
Scientific Name Lampornis amethystinus Panterpe insignis
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 13.1 cm (5.2 in) 12.6 cm (5.0 in)
Weight 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) 6.1000000000000005 g (0.22 oz)
Diet Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. Nectarivore of Costa Rican highland forest; visits Ericaceae and Fuchsia blooms at high elevations. Catches …
Clutch Size 2 2
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only

None

Fiery-throated Hummingbird 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.

Fiery-throated Hummingbird

Song

Rough, buzzy chatter with coarse texture; series of harsh notes delivered emphatically during competitive encounter.

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.

Fiery-throated Hummingbird

Endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama in cloud forest and páramo. 1,500–3,100 m.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Least Concern

Fiery-throated Hummingbird

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.

Fiery-throated Hummingbird

A medium-sized hummingbird (11 cm) endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama at 1,400-2,500 m. Brilliantly multicolored: fiery orange throat, blue breast, green belly, and coppery tail. Nectarivore of cloud forest. One of the most colorful birds in the Americas.

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