Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Mexican Hermit
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Phaethornis mexicanus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Mexican Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Phaethornis mexicanus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 13.4 cm (5.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 4.5 g (0.16 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore adapted to curved corolla flowers via trap-lining. Supplements nectar with small spiders caught near … |
| 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.
Mexican Hermit
Rapid, buzzy trill rising in pitch; ascending cascade of rough notes gaining speed and urgency before abrupt stop.
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.
Mexican Hermit
Endemic to northwestern Mexico in Sinaloa, Jalisco, and Nayarit in dry tropical forest. Sea level to 1,200 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Mexican 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
Mexican Hermit
Fiery-topaz: brilliant iridescent fiery-orange crown disc; violet-blue gorget; metallic green back; females with orange-rufous crown patch
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.
Mexican Hermit
A medium-sized hermit hummingbird (13-14 cm) endemic to the Pacific slope of western Mexico from Nayarit to Oaxaca. Green plumage with buff underparts and long, white-tipped tail. Nectarivore of tropical dry and humid forests. Recently split from Long-billed Hermit.