Common Starling vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Sturnus vulgaris compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Common Starling | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sturnus vulgaris | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Passeriformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Sturnidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 21.5 cm (8.5 in) | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 37.0 cm (14.6 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 78.0 g (2.75 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — insects and larvae (especially leatherjackets), earthworms, fruit, and seeds. Probes soil with open … | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … |
| Clutch Size | 4-7 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Common Starling only
Ruby-throated Hummingbird only
Common Starling
Open countryside, farmland, parks, and urban areas. Forms enormous communal roosts in winter, especially in urban environments.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Deciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, gardens, and parks with flowering plants. Migrates across the Gulf of Mexico.
Song & Call Comparison
Common Starling
A complex mimic: rattles, whistles, clicks, and squeaks mixed with imitations of other birds. Song is a continuous medley. Also gives harsh 'scheer' alarm and chattering.
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
Common Starling
Native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Common Starling
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Starling
Glossy black plumage with iridescent purple and green sheen in breeding season. Winter plumage shows white spotting. Short tail and pointed wings in flight.
Long, pointed bill — yellow in breeding season, dark in winter
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
Common Starling
The common starling is famous for its murmurations — vast swirling flocks of thousands that create mesmerizing patterns in winter skies. An accomplished mimic, it can imitate other birds, car alarms, and phone ringtones. Introduced to North America by a group intent on establishing every bird mentioned by Shakespeare.
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.