Purple-throated Mountaingem
Lampornis calolaemus
The purple-throated mountaingem is 10 to 11.5 cm (3.9 to 4.5 in) long and weighs 4.5 to 6 g (0.16 to 0.21 oz). Both sexes of all subspecies have a medium-length straight black bill, a white to pale buff stripe behind the eye, and a fairly long tail. Adult males of the nominate subspecies L. c. calolaemus have a glittering emerald green to bluish green forehead and crown. The rest of their upperparts are metallic bronze-green that shades to bluish or grass green on the uppertail coverts. Much of the face is dusky bronze green and the gorget is metallic violet or purple. Voice: The purple-throated mountaingem's song is "high, thin, and dry, a complex medley of sputtering and warbling notes." A frequently heard call is variously described as "trrrt" or "a sharp, penetrating, buzzy zeet or zeep." It also gives "higher-pitched, scratchy, chattering notes" when interacting with other hummingbirds.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
White-throated Mountaingem
Lampornis castaneoventris
The grey-tailed mountaingem is about 12 cm (4.7 in) long and weighs about 5 to 6 g (0.18 to 0.21 oz). It has a medium-length straight black bill, dark cheeks, and a white stripe behind the eye. Males have mostly dark bronzy green upperparts with an emerald green crown and a black to bluish black tail. Their chin and throat are white, the sides of the neck and upper breast bright green, and the lower breast and vent area dark gray. Females have entirely bright green upperparts. Their central tail feathers are dark metallic to bronze green and the outer ones paler. Voice: The white-throated mountaingem makes high pitched calls described as "ziit or ziip" and also "a 'sputtery, bubbly' song".
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where you might meet both
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Play today's Daily BirdPhotos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Purple-throated Mountaingem and White-throated Mountaingem.