Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs White-bearded Hermit
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Phaethornis hispidus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | White-bearded Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Phaethornis hispidus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 10.8 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 4.975 g (0.18 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore visiting Heliconia, Costus, and banana flowers along forest understory routes. Takes small insects opportunistically. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
White-bearded Hermit
Sharp, staccato chips in rapid series; clean, emphatic notes delivered rhythmically without inflection or melodic variation.
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-bearded Hermit
Widespread in western Amazonia from Colombia and Venezuela south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia. Found at 100–1,000 m.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
White-bearded Hermit
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-bearded Hermit
A medium-sized hermit hummingbird (13-15 cm) found in lowland forests from Venezuela through Amazonia to Bolivia. Green plumage with a distinctive white beard-like throat stripe and long, white-tipped tail. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth, visiting Heliconia flowers.