Honduran Emerald vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Amazilia luciae compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Honduran Emerald | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amazilia luciae | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 10.9 cm (4.3 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 4.5 g (0.16 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Honduran endemic nectarivore of dry-forest flowers; supplements diet with insects and spiders. | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Deciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, gardens, and parks with flowering plants. Migrates across the Gulf of Mexico.
Song & Call Comparison
Honduran Emerald
Melodic, descending four-note phrase; clear flute-like tones stepping downward smoothly in relaxed morning progression.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Soft, high-pitched chattering and twittering 'chee-dit'. Also produces a thin 'tik' call in flight. Wing beats create an audible high-pitched humming buzz during hovering.
Geographic Range & Migration
Honduran Emerald
Endemic to the interior highlands of Honduras. Classified as Endangered. Honduras's only endemic hummingbird.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Honduran Emerald
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Honduran Emerald
Short-toed Coucal (Philippine): shorter tail; dark brown above; rufous wings; buff below; dark streaks; red eye; Philippine endemic
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Metallic green upperparts and greyish-white underparts. Males have a brilliant iridescent ruby-red gorget that appears black in poor light. Females lack the gorget.
Long, straight, thin black bill adapted for probing flowers
About These Birds
Honduran Emerald
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to the interior highlands of Honduras. Turquoise-green plumage. Nectarivore of dry thorn forest and scrub. Classified as Endangered due to extremely small range and ongoing habitat loss. Honduras's only endemic hummingbird.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird in eastern North America. These tiny birds beat their wings about 53 times per second and can fly backwards, sideways, and even briefly upside down. They make an extraordinary non-stop 800 km crossing of the Gulf of Mexico during migration.