Blue-throated Hillstar vs Emperor Penguin

Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus compared with Aptenodytes forsteri

Key Differences

• Blue-throated Hillstar is Critically Endangered while Emperor Penguin is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Blue-throated Hillstar	Emperor Penguin
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Apodiformes (Apodiformes)	Sphenisciformes (Penguins)
Family	Trochilidae	Spheniscidae (Penguins)
Genus	Oreotrochilus	Aptenodytes (Great Penguins)
Species	Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus	Aptenodytes forsteri

Evolutionary Relationship

Blue-throated Hillstar and Emperor Penguin share a common ancestor at the Class level: Aves. (Birds)

Conservation Status

Blue-throated Hillstar

CR — Critically Endangered

Emperor Penguin

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~595.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Blue-throated Hillstar	Emperor Penguin
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	20 years
Average Length	—	1.1 m
Average Weight	—	40.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Blue-throated Hillstar

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Ecuador. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Emperor Penguin

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Blue-throated Hillstar

The Blue-throated Hillstar (Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus) is a species in the genus Oreotrochilus. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeogra

Emperor Penguin

The world's largest penguin, emperor penguins stand up to 1.2 meters and weigh 45 kg, inhabiting the Antarctic continent in some of the most extreme conditions on Earth. They breed in midwinter darkness at temperatures below -60°C, with males incubating single eggs on their feet under a brood pouch for 65 days while females are at sea. Their huddling behavior — cycling individuals through the warm center of thousands-strong groups — is a masterclass in cooperative survival.