Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Brace's Emerald

Lampornis amethystinus compared with Riccordia bracei

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem Brace's Emerald
Scientific Name Lampornis amethystinus Riccordia bracei
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Extinct
Length
Wingspan 13.1 cm (5.2 in)
Weight 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) 3.54 g (0.12 oz)
Diet Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. Extinct emerald; was a nectarivore of Bahamian scrub, likely visiting flowering shrubs and supplementing with …
Clutch Size 2 --
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only

Brace's Emerald 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.

Brace's Emerald

Song

Soft, melodic warbling with gentle rhythm; notes rising and falling in quiet unhurried phrase through shaded area.

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.

Brace's Emerald

Formerly endemic to New Providence Island, Bahamas. Extinct since the late 19th century. Known from a single 1877 specimen.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Extinct

Brace's Emerald

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.

Brace's Emerald

An extinct hummingbird formerly endemic to New Providence Island, Bahamas. Known from a single specimen collected in 1877. Green plumage. Lost to habitat destruction and possibly predation by introduced mammals. No confirmed sightings since the 19th century.

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