Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Purple-crowned Plovercrest
Lampornis amethystinus compared with Stephanoxis loddigesii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem | Purple-crowned Plovercrest |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis amethystinus | Stephanoxis loddigesii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) | 9.5 cm (3.7 in) |
| Weight | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) | 3.2 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. | Hovering nectarivore of lowland and montane forest, probing Heliconia and garden flowers. Supplements with insects … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
None
Purple-crowned Plovercrest only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
High, insect-like buzz sustained steadily; thin monotone with rapid modulation barely distinguishable from background insects.
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.
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
Found in southeastern Brazil. Resident in Atlantic Forest edges and secondary growth. An Atlantic Forest near-endemic.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
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
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
Fischer's Turaco: brilliant metallic green body; crimson crest; white facial streak; green orbital ring; crimson flight feathers
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.
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in southeastern Brazil. Males have a purple-violet crest. Nectarivore of Atlantic Forest edges and secondary growth. Recently split from Green-crowned Plovercrest. An Atlantic Forest near-endemic.