Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Amethyst-throated Mountaingem
Lampornis amethystinus
Amethyst-throated Mountaingem (Lampornis amethystinus) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 9 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Amethyst-throated Mountaingem (Lampornis amethystinus) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 5.2 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Lampornis
- Species amethystinus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.2 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Amethyst-throated Mountaingem is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Amethyst-throated Mountaingem is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Amethyst-throated Mountaingem (Lampornis amethystinus) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA c Mexico to Honduras.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.2 g, with a wing length of about 6.5 cm and a tail of around 4.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 195,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Amethyst-throated Mountaingem?
The Amethyst-throated Mountaingem is a very small bird that weighs around 5.2 g.
Where does the Amethyst-throated Mountaingem live?
The Amethyst-throated Mountaingem is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA c Mexico to Honduras, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Amethyst-throated Mountaingem belong to?
The Amethyst-throated Mountaingem (Lampornis amethystinus) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Amethyst-throated Mountaingem eat?
The Amethyst-throated Mountaingem is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Amethyst-throated Mountaingem migrate?
The Amethyst-throated Mountaingem is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Amethyst-throated Mountaingem endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Amethyst-throated Mountaingem make?
1 real field recording of the Amethyst-throated Mountaingem — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Amethyst-throated Mountaingem's range?
The Amethyst-throated Mountaingem has a mapped global range of about 195,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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Guides for this bird
Best Hummingbird Feeders
How to choose a hummingbird feeder — the two main styles compared, the right sugar-water mix, and how to keep it clean so the birds stay safe. A decision framework with the hummingbird species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Trochilidae
A field guide to the Trochilidae family — 366 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.