Magnificent Hummingbird vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eugenes fulgens compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Magnificent Hummingbird | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eugenes fulgens | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 14.4 cm (5.7 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 7.81 g (0.28 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American highland forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. 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
Magnificent Hummingbird
Thin, high-pitched sibilant trill; rapid soft buzzing sustained gently during slow hover near cloud forest 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
Magnificent Hummingbird
Found in montane forest and pine-oak woodland from southwestern USA south through Mexico to Honduras. 1,200–3,500 m.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Magnificent Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Magnificent Hummingbird
Esmeraldas Woodstar (alt): tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females 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
Magnificent Hummingbird
A large hummingbird (13 cm) found in highlands from the southwestern United States to Panama. Males have a spectacular magenta-purple gorget, dark green body, and black breast. Nectarivore of mountain meadows and pine-oak forests. Known for its dramatic courtship dive displays.
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.