Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Scintillant Hummingbird
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Selasphorus scintilla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Scintillant Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Selasphorus scintilla |
| 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) | 2.188 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Feeds on nectar from low-elevation Costa Rican scrub flowers. Supplements diet with tiny insects and … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
None
Scintillant Hummingbird only
Song & Call Comparison
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Scintillant Hummingbird
Soft, sibilant twittering with airy quality; high light notes cascading gently near flowering vegetation.
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.
Scintillant Hummingbird
Endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama at 900-2,000 m elevation. Resident in cloud forest edges.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Scintillant Hummingbird
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.
Scintillant Hummingbird
One of the world's smallest hummingbirds (6-7 cm). Endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama at 900-2,000 m. Males have a flaming orange-red gorget. Nectarivore of cloud forest edges and mountain gardens. Weighs only 2-3 grams.