Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Buff-bellied Hermit
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Phaethornis subochraceus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Buff-bellied Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Phaethornis subochraceus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 10.1 cm (4.0 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 4.0 g (0.14 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore with elongated bill suited to pendant tubular flowers. Gleans small spiders and mites from … |
| Clutch Size | 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.
Buff-bellied Hermit
Rapid, light twittering cascade; airy high notes tumbling quickly in animated sequence during courtship display flight.
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.
Buff-bellied Hermit
Endemic to central and southwestern Brazil in cerrado woodland edges and dry forest gallery. Found at 400–900 m.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Buff-bellied 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
Buff-bellied Hermit
Needle-billed Hermit: heavily streaked tawny underparts; brown-olive above; pale supercilium; very fine needle-like decurved bill; streaked throat
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.
Buff-bellied Hermit
A small hermit hummingbird (10-12 cm) found in dry deciduous forests and cerrado of central Bolivia and western Brazil. Buff-orange belly, green upperparts, and a curved bill. Nectarivore of dry forest undergrowth. An uncommon species of semi-arid habitats.