Alder Spittlebug vs Black-thighed Puffleg

Aphrophora alni compared with Eriocnemis derbyi

Key Differences

• Alder Spittlebug is Least Concern while Black-thighed Puffleg is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Alder Spittlebug	Black-thighed Puffleg
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Hemiptera (Hemiptera)	Apodiformes (Apodiformes)
Family	Aphrophoridae	Trochilidae
Genus	Aphrophora	Eriocnemis
Species	Aphrophora alni	Eriocnemis derbyi

Evolutionary Relationship

Alder Spittlebug and Black-thighed Puffleg share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Alder Spittlebug

LC — Least Concern

Black-thighed Puffleg

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Alder Spittlebug	Black-thighed Puffleg
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Alder Spittlebug

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (United States).

Black-thighed Puffleg

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Norway. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Alder Spittlebug

The Alder Spittlebug (Aphrophora alni) is a species in the genus Aphrophora. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Black-thighed Puffleg

An Andean puffleg hummingbird named for the males' distinctive velvety black thighs contrasting with the characteristic white leg feather puffs, black-thighed pufflegs inhabit humid montane forest and forest edges in Ecuador and Colombia at elevations of 1,500–3,500 meters. Males display glittering green plumage with a violet-blue tail. Listed as Near Threatened due to deforestation of the Andean cloud forest, with populations declining as the specialized high-altitude forest habitat is cleared for agriculture.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway