Oaxaca Hummingbird vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eupherusa cyanophrys compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Oaxaca Hummingbird | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eupherusa cyanophrys | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 11.7 cm (4.6 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 4.725 g (0.17 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Hovering nectarivore of lowland and montane forest, probing Heliconia and garden flowers. Supplements with insects … | 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
Oaxaca Hummingbird
Pure, sustained whistle with bell-like clarity; clear single note ringing out then slowly fading away.
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
Oaxaca Hummingbird
Endemic to the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico. Classified as Endangered due to extremely small range.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Oaxaca Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Oaxaca Hummingbird
Striped Cuckoo: pale brown-white below with dark streaks; boldly streaked dark brown above; long white-tipped tail; pale supercilium
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
Oaxaca Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the mountains of Oaxaca, southwestern Mexico. Green plumage with blue supercilium (eyebrow). Nectarivore of cloud forest and forest edges. Classified as Endangered due to extremely small range in the Sierra de Miahuatlán.
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.