Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem vs Spot-throated Hummingbird

Lampornis amethystinus compared with Thaumasius taczanowskii

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem Spot-throated Hummingbird
Scientific Name Lampornis amethystinus Thaumasius taczanowskii
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 13.1 cm (5.2 in)
Weight 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) 6.833333333333333 g (0.24 oz)
Diet Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. Nectarivore visiting diverse flowering plants; supplements the high-sugar nectar diet with small insects and spiders …
Clutch Size 2 2
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only

None

Spot-throated Hummingbird only

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.

Spot-throated Hummingbird

Song

Rapid, mechanical clicking in even dry rhythm; staccato notes forming steady sequence during active day.

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.

Spot-throated Hummingbird

Found in Andean foothills of Peru at 1,500-3,000 m elevation. A Peruvian near-endemic of montane scrub.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem

Least Concern

Spot-throated 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.

Spot-throated Hummingbird

A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean foothills of Peru at 1,500-3,000 m. Green plumage with spotted throat. Nectarivore of montane scrub and forest edges. Named after the Polish ornithologist Władysław Taczanowski. A Peruvian near-endemic.

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family