Green-tailed Goldenthroat vs White-tailed Goldenthroat

Green-tailed Goldenthroat

Polytmus theresiae

Tiny4 gGrassland

The green-tailed goldenthroat is 8.9 to 9.9 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) long and weighs 3.0 to 3.9 g (0.11 to 0.14 oz). Both sexes of both subspecies have a long slightly decurved pinkish and black bill. The male of the nominate subspecies is overall shining green. The tail is rounded and green, with all but the central pair of feathers having white at their base. The area around the eye is dusky gray with a white spot behind the eye. The female is smaller. Its throat and breast are whitish thickly spotted with green, and the outermost tail feathers have white tips. Voice: The green-tailed goldenthroat's song is "a repeated, long whinnying series of 20–25 notes, first rising then slightly falling, and fading at the end, typically with a single introductory note". The isolated Peruvian population has a similar but faster song with trills. The species also makes "single 'tsit' notes."

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Gerry van Tonder · CC BY 4.0

White-tailed Goldenthroat

Polytmus guainumbi

Tiny5 gGrassland

The white-tailed goldenthroat is 9.7 to 11.8 cm (3.8 to 4.6 in) long and weighs 4.4 to 5 g (0.16 to 0.18 oz). All subspecies have a long decurved reddish and black bill. The male of the nominate subspecies has shiny golden to bronzy green upperparts. Its tail is long and rounded; the feathers are mostly green with white tips and the outer three pairs have broad white edges. The area around the eye is dusky gray with white streaks above and below it. The underparts are iridescent golden-green. Voice: The white-tailed goldenthroat is vocal when foraging, giving a "fast-paced series of loud, excited 'spit' notes". It also gives a "dry 'tsip-tsip' in flight."

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Douglas Lopes · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Green-tailed Goldenthroat and White-tailed Goldenthroat.