White-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis castaneoventris cinereicauda) - female

29 January 2009, Savegre Mountain Hotel, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica The females of Purple-throated and White-throated mountain-gems are virtually indistinguishable and neither of the Costa Rica field guides illustrates the female White-throated, instead relying on the illustration of the Purple-throated for both. Here you can barely see one of the few differences. White-throated females have a duller grayish-green tail. Some authors lump the two species. E.g. HBW calls the whole assemblage the Variable Mountain-Gem. Panasonic DMC-LZ5 / Nikon FieldScope 3 / 30X WA hand-held (no adapter)