Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Koepcke's Hermit
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Phaethornis koepckeae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Koepcke's Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Phaethornis koepckeae |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 12.1 cm (4.8 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 4.95 g (0.17 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.
Koepcke's Hermit
Deep, hollow churr with resonant quality; prolonged buzzing trill carrying well through dense forest at low frequency.
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.
Koepcke's Hermit
Endemic to Peru in the Ucayali and Madre de Dios drainages. Found in lowland and foothill forest at 200–700 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Koepcke's 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
Koepcke's Hermit
Little Hermit: glittering green crown; pale buff underparts; white pectoral tufts; white postocular stripe; tiny size; decurved bill
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.
Koepcke's Hermit
A medium-sized hermit hummingbird (13-14 cm) endemic to the eastern slopes of the Peruvian Andes at 800-1,500 m. Green plumage with rufous underparts. Named after Maria Koepcke, a German-Peruvian ornithologist. Classified as Near Threatened due to limited range.