Collared Inca vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Coeligena torquata compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Collared Inca | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena torquata | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 14.8 cm (5.8 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 7.675000000000001 g (0.27 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Andean cloud forest; visits dense Ericaceae and Fuchsia patches. Catches small insects in … | 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
Collared Inca
Rapid, mechanical twittering cascade; quick staccato notes tumbling freely in animated sequence above mountain flowers.
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
Collared Inca
Widespread in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,500–3,200 m.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Collared Inca
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Collared Inca
White-tufted Sunbeam: males with iridescent coppery-purple gorget; metallic green above; white tuft; 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
Collared Inca
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Bolivia at 1,500-3,000 m. Green plumage with a distinctive white collar band. Nectarivore of montane forest and forest edges. One of the most recognizable Andean hummingbirds.
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.