Santa Marta Sabrewing vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Campylopterus phainopeplus compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Santa Marta Sabrewing | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Campylopterus phainopeplus | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 13.6 cm (5.4 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 6.825 g (0.24 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from flowering shrubs and epiphytes. Catches small insects and spiders to meet … | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 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
Santa Marta Sabrewing
Rapid, animated twittering with bright quality; light notes cascading freely in cheerful energetic sequence.
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
Santa Marta Sabrewing
Endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, at 1,200-3,000 m. Classified as Endangered.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Santa Marta Sabrewing
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Santa Marta Sabrewing
Kori Bustard: pale gray-white below; finely vermiculated gray-black above; black and white neck barring; large size; male much larger
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
Santa Marta Sabrewing
A large hummingbird (12-13 cm) endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, at 1,200-3,000 m. Dark green plumage with iridescent blue throat. Nectarivore of cloud forest. A Santa Marta endemic. Classified as Endangered due to restricted range.
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.