Lucifer Hummingbird vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Calothorax lucifer compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lucifer Hummingbird | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calothorax lucifer | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 7.9 cm (3.1 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.4000000000000004 g (0.12 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore specialising in agave and ocotillo blooms in Chihuahuan Desert. Supplements nectar with small insects … | 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
Lucifer Hummingbird
Buzzy, sustained trill with monotonous quality; low-pitched continuous vibration with little variation throughout.
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
Lucifer Hummingbird
Found in arid habitats from the southwestern United States to Honduras. Breeds in desert canyons; winters in central Mexico.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Lucifer Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Lucifer Hummingbird
Dusky Hummingbird: males with iridescent violet gorget; metallic green above; dusky-gray underparts; females green above; spotted
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
Lucifer Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in arid habitats from the southwestern United States to Honduras. Males have an iridescent magenta-purple gorget that extends down the throat like a flame. Long, decurved bill. Nectarivore of agave flowers and desert scrub.
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.