Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Little Hermit
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Phaethornis longuemareus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Little Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Phaethornis longuemareus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 8.6 cm (3.4 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 3.3 g (0.12 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Primarily nectar-feeding; uses exceptionally curved bill to access heliconia blossoms; supplements with small insects. |
| 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.
Little Hermit
Loud, ringing whistle with bold projection; clear single-pitch call carrying impressively across open montane grassland.
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.
Little Hermit
Found from Trinidad and northern Venezuela west through much of Amazonia to Bolivia. Resident in lowland forest undergrowth near streams.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Little 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
Little Hermit
Tiny; bronze-green upperparts with rufous-buff rump band; buff underparts; pale buff supercilium and malar stripe bordering dark face mask; white-tipped elongated central tail feathers; Trinidad and Venezuela species.
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.
Little Hermit
A tiny hermit hummingbird (8-9 cm), one of the smallest hummingbirds. Found in humid forests from Mexico to Brazil and Trinidad. Green upperparts with rufous-buff underparts and a curved bill. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth, visiting small flowers along forest streams and trails.