Rufous-capped Thornbill vs Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Chalcostigma ruficeps compared with Ocreatus addae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rufous-capped Thornbill | Rufous-booted Racket-tail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chalcostigma ruficeps | Ocreatus addae |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.6 cm (4.6 in) | — |
| Weight | 3.6666666666666665 g (0.13 oz) | 3.0 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Peruvian and Bolivian puna; forages at Chuquiraga and low shrubs. Catches tiny arthropods. | Nectarivore of Bolivian and Peruvian cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and bromeliads. Gleans small insects from … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Rufous-capped Thornbill
Melodic, descending phrase with warm timbre; clear notes stepping down smoothly in relaxed musical progression.
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Deep, resonant hum barely audible; extremely low vibration barely perceptible during hovering near high-altitude flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Rufous-capped Thornbill
Found on the eastern Andean slope from Ecuador south to Bolivia in lower montane forest. 1,200–2,600 m elevation.
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Found in cloud forests of northern Bolivia and adjacent Peru and Brazil at 400–1,400 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Rufous-capped Thornbill
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
How to Tell Them Apart
Rufous-capped Thornbill
Purple-crowned Plovercrest: males with glittering violet crown; metallic green above; white underparts; females green with spotted below
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet: tiny; males with brilliant orange-gold belly; violet gorget; females green above; spotted buff below
About These Birds
Rufous-capped Thornbill
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests and páramo from Ecuador to Bolivia at 2,500-4,000 m. Rufous cap and green plumage. Nectarivore of high-altitude shrubs and Puya bromeliads. Often found near treeline in elfin forest.
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
A small hummingbird (8-10 cm plus tail rackets) found in Andean cloud forests of southeastern Peru and Bolivia at 1,200-2,200 m. Males have rufous leg puffs instead of white. Recently split from Booted Racket-tail. Nectarivore of montane forest undergrowth.