Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Bronze-tailed Comet
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Polyonymus caroli
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Bronze-tailed Comet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Polyonymus caroli |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 12.9 cm (5.1 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 5.125 g (0.18 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Nectarivore of high puna and queñual woodland; forages at Chuquiraga and Polylepis flowers. Gleans small … |
| 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.
Bronze-tailed Comet
Soft, thin twittering barely audible; delicate minute notes cascading gently almost lost in surrounding forest sounds.
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.
Bronze-tailed Comet
Endemic to Peru in the Río Marañón drainage and adjacent valleys in arid scrub and dry forest. 1,800–3,200 m.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Bronze-tailed Comet
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
Bronze-tailed Comet
Esmeraldas Woodstar: males with glittering purple gorget; metallic bronze-green above; white underparts; females green above with spots
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.
Bronze-tailed Comet
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-15 cm) endemic to the Andes of Peru at 2,700-4,000 m. Green plumage with a bronze-colored, forked tail. Nectarivore of montane scrub and Polylepis forest. Uncommon and restricted to high-elevation habitats.