Turquoise-throated Puffleg vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eriocnemis godini compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Turquoise-throated Puffleg | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eriocnemis godini | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 11.8 cm (4.6 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.06 g (0.18 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian cloud forest; extremely restricted range. Forages at Ericaceae; supplements with small arthropods. | 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
Turquoise-throated Puffleg
Soft, pure whistle with melodic inflection; gentle ascending note curving smoothly upward, rarely documented vocally.
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
Turquoise-throated Puffleg
Historically known from Ecuador and possibly Colombia; possibly extinct or near-extinct. Last confirmed records from Imbabura at 2,400–2,800 m.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Turquoise-throated Puffleg
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Turquoise-throated Puffleg
Violet-chested Hummingbird: males with glittering deep purple gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green with 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
Turquoise-throated Puffleg
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) known only from historical specimens collected in the 19th century in Colombia or Ecuador. No confirmed modern records. Classified as Critically Endangered, possibly extinct. Turquoise throat (specimens) distinguishes it from other pufflegs.
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.