Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Minute Hermit
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Phaethornis idaliae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Minute Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Phaethornis idaliae |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 6.9 cm (2.7 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 2.25 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore specializing in Heliconia and other curved tubular flowers. Supplements diet with small spiders and … |
| 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.
Minute Hermit
Harsh, grating buzz with mechanical quality; abrupt dry trill issued suddenly then stopping, leaving brief startling 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.
Minute Hermit
Endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil from Espírito Santo to Santa Catarina. Found at sea level to 900 m.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Minute Hermit
How to Tell Them Apart
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bumblebee Hummingbird: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
Minute Hermit
Buff-tailed Sicklebill: rich chestnut-brown underparts; dark olive-green upperparts; white postocular stripe; strongly decurved bill matching sickle shape
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.
Minute Hermit
A tiny hermit hummingbird (6-7 cm), one of the smallest in its genus. Endemic to the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. Green plumage with rufous underparts and a short, curved bill. Nectarivore of low forest undergrowth. Classified as Near Threatened due to habitat loss.