Bird Guide

Andean Emerald vs White-eared Hummingbird

Andean Emerald (Uranomitra franciae)

Andean Emerald

Uranomitra franciae

Tiny6 gForest

The Andean emerald is 9 to 11 cm (3.5 to 4.3 in) long. Males weigh about 5.6 g (0.20 oz) and females about 5.3 g (0.19 oz). Both sexes of all subspecies have a straight to slightly decurved bill of medium length with a blackish maxilla and a coral red mandible with a dark tip. Adult males of the nominate subspecies U. f. franciae have a glittering violet-blue crown and glittering golden- to emerald green cheeks and neck. Their upperparts and flanks are light green to golden-green with a coppery tinge to the uppertail coverts. The center of their underparts is white. Voice: The Andean emerald has a quite variable song, typically described as "a repeated complex phrase of high-pitched squeaky whistles, trills and scratchy notes." It also makes "a high-pitched 'tsip'" call, and during social interactions "scratchy squeaky chatters".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Thomas Shahan · CC BY 2.0
White-eared Hummingbird (Basilinna leucotis)

White-eared Hummingbird

Basilinna leucotis

Tiny3 gForest

The white-eared hummingbird is 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) long. Males weigh an average of 3.6 g (0.13 oz) and females 3.2 g (0.11 oz). Adults of the three subspecies are very similar. Their bills are straight; males' are red with a black tip and females' are mostly blackish with some red to orange at the base. Males of the nominate subspecies in breeding plumage have a metallic violet or bluish violet forehead, a mostly black face with a wide white stripe behind the eye, and a dull black crown. Voice: The white-eared hummingbird's song is "a tedious, metallic chipping chi'tink chi'tink chi'tink ..., or chi'dit chi'dit chi'dit ..., or simply tink tink." Its calls have been described as "fairly hard, dry chips, at times repeated steadily, may break into short, quiet gurgles" and "a sharp metallic tchik or tink".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Seabamirum on Flickr · CC BY 2.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Andean Emerald and White-eared Hummingbird.