Bird Guide

Blue-throated Starfrontlet vs Rainbow Starfrontlet

Blue-throated Starfrontlet (Coeligena helianthea)

Blue-throated Starfrontlet

Coeligena helianthea

Tiny7 gForest

The blue-throated starfrontlet is about 13 cm (5.1 in) long. Males weigh between 7.1 and 7.6 g (0.25 and 0.27 oz) and females 6 to 6.5 g (0.21 to 0.23 oz). Both sexes have a long, straight, black bill and white spot behind the eye. Both have bronzy black forked tails but the female's is less indented than the male's. In poor light the species may appear all dark. However, males of the nominate subspecies have a black head with a dark green forehead. Their upperparts are dark glossed with emerald green while the lower back and rump are dark blue with some violet. Voice: The blue-throated starfrontlet's voice is poorly known. It does make "single, strident 'chit' notes."

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: scaup · CC BY 4.0
Rainbow Starfrontlet (Coeligena iris)

Rainbow Starfrontlet

Coeligena iris

Tiny7 gForest

The rainbow starfrontlet is 12.5 to 14 cm (4.9 to 5.5 in) long. Males weigh 6.7 to 8.8 g (0.24 to 0.31 oz) and females 6 to 8.1 g (0.21 to 0.29 oz). Both sexes have a long, straight, black bill, with the female's being somewhat longer than the male's. Both sexes have a white spot behind the eye. Both sexes also have a forked tail, but the male's is more deeply indented than the female's. The subspecies differ significantly in their plumage. Males of the nominate subspecies have a glittering yellow-green forecrown that transitions through golden yellow to blue on the crown. Voice: During aerial chases, the rainbow starfrontlet makes a "thin, wiry chatter, rising and falling, with rattles and squeaky notes". It also makes "tsit" or "tip" notes.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Rainbow Starfrontlet
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Flight call · Azuay: upper Yunguilla Valley, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Manuel Roncal · CC0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Blue-throated Starfrontlet and Rainbow Starfrontlet.