Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Reddish Hermit
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Phaethornis ruber
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Reddish Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Phaethornis ruber |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 6.6 cm (2.6 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 2.4 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore of dense undergrowth flowers. Regularly hawks small flying insects and gleans spiders to meet … |
| 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.
Reddish Hermit
Thin, reedy whistle with slightly nasal quality; soft sustained note barely wavering, issued from dense shrub cover.
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.
Reddish Hermit
Widespread in humid lowland forests from the Guianas south through Amazonian Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia. Found at 0–900 m.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Reddish 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
Reddish Hermit
White-whiskered Hermit: pale cinnamon-buff below; olive-brown above; white supercilium and malar stripe; elongated white-tipped tail feathers
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.
Reddish Hermit
A tiny hermit hummingbird (7-8 cm) found in humid forests from the Guianas through Amazonia to Brazil and Bolivia. Rufous-brown plumage overall with a curved bill. Nectarivore of dense forest undergrowth. Visits tiny flowers near the forest floor. One of the smallest hermits.