Cozumel Emerald vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Cynanthus forficatus compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cozumel Emerald | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cynanthus forficatus | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | — | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 2.5 g (0.09 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore specialising in tubular blossoms; supplements the floral nectar diet with tiny insects and spiders … | 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
Cozumel Emerald
Soft, high-pitched twittering barely audible; delicate minute notes cascading gently near flowering trees.
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
Cozumel Emerald
Endemic to Cozumel Island off the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Classified as Vulnerable due to its tiny island range.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Cozumel Emerald
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Cozumel Emerald
Edward's Hummingbird: males with iridescent blue gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted below
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
Cozumel Emerald
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to Cozumel Island off the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Green plumage with a forked tail. Nectarivore of the island's tropical forest and gardens. A very range-restricted island endemic. Classified as Vulnerable.
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.