Olivaceous Thornbill vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Chalcostigma olivaceum compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Olivaceous Thornbill | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chalcostigma olivaceum | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 16.3 cm (6.4 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 7.3999999999999995 g (0.26 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of high Bolivian and Peruvian páramo; short bill accesses small open flowers. Gleans 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
Olivaceous Thornbill
Buzzy, high-frequency trill with insect-like quality; sustained continuous vibration with rapid amplitude modulation.
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
Olivaceous Thornbill
Widespread in high Andean puna grassland from Peru to Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. 3,200–4,800 m.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Olivaceous Thornbill
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Olivaceous Thornbill
Blue-tufted Starthroat: males with iridescent blue-green gorget; metallic green above; white pectoral tufts; females green above; spots
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
Olivaceous Thornbill
A small hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in Andean puna and páramo from Peru to Bolivia at 3,500-4,800 m. Olive-green plumage with subtle throat iridescence. Nectarivore of high-altitude flowering plants. One of the drabbest thornbills. Tolerates extreme cold.
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.