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

Shared Habitats

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only

None

Buff-bellied Hermit only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Song

Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.

Buff-bellied Hermit

Song

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

Least Concern

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Least Concern

Buff-bellied Hermit

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.

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