Royal Sunangel vs Black-bellied Thorntail

The Royal Sunangel and Black-bellied Thorntail are both hummingbirds but differ notably in tail shape and plumage. The Royal Sunangel male is deep blue with a long, deeply forked tail, while the Black-bellied Thorntail male has a narrow rufous band on its chest and lacks a crest. Females of these species also differ in coloration and tail structure.

1. Tail Shape: Look for the deeply forked tail of the Royal Sunangel compared to the shorter tail of the Black-bellied Thorntail. 2. Male Plumage: Note the deep blue color of the Royal Sunangel male versus the rufous band on the chest of the Black-bellied Thorntail male. 3. Female Plumage: Female Royal Sunangels have a distinctive pale breast-band and green-spotted cinnamon underparts. 4. Behavior: Listen for the loud cracking sound of the Black-bellied Thorntail male during display. 5. Habitat: Consider the elevation and forest edge habitat for Royal Sunangels.

Both species are small hummingbirds, but the Royal Sunangel has a longer, deeply forked tail compared to the shorter tail of the Black-bellied Thorntail.

Male Royal Sunangels are entirely deep blue, whereas male Black-bellied Thorntails have a green gorget and a black chest separated by a narrow rufous band. Female Royal Sunangels have dark green upperparts and green-spotted cinnamon underparts, while female Black-bellied Thorntails are not described here but generally have less distinctive plumage.

The Black-bellied Thorntail male is noted for a loud cracking sound during display, a behavior not mentioned for the Royal Sunangel.

Royal Sunangels inhabit subtropical elfin forest edges and shrubbery at elevations between 1,450 m and 2,200 m. The habitat preference of the Black-bellied Thorntail is not detailed here.