Lesser Violetear vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Colibri cyanotus compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lesser Violetear | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Colibri cyanotus | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | — | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 4.866666666666667 g (0.17 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore highly adaptable to disturbed habitats; visits Lantana, Salvia, and Ericaceae flowers. Supplements with small … | 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
Lesser Violetear
Rapid, light chips in cheerful sequence; bright staccato notes with buoyant quality delivered during active foraging.
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
Lesser Violetear
Found in Andean highlands from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,000–2,800 m elevation.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Lesser Violetear
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Lesser Violetear
Violet-headed Hummingbird: violet-blue gorget and head; metallic green above; white belly; cinnamon flanks; females duller with spotted throat
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
Lesser Violetear
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) with bright green plumage and violet-blue ear patches. Found in Andean highlands from Costa Rica to Bolivia at 1,200-3,000 m. Nectarivore of cloud forest edges and gardens. Recently split from Green Violetear; range extends south of Panama.
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.