Royal Sunangel vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Heliangelus regalis compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Royal Sunangel | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliangelus regalis | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 10.4 cm (4.1 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.95 g (0.14 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of restricted Andean endemism zone; forages at sparse Ericaceae and Gentianaceae blooms. Supplements with … | 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
Royal Sunangel
Buzzy, insect-like trill with pulsing quality; high-frequency vibration with slight amplitude modulation near blossoms.
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
Royal Sunangel
Endemic to a small area of the Río Marañón drainage in northern Peru at 1,800–2,800 m. Critically endangered.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Royal Sunangel
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Royal Sunangel
Fire-throated Metaltail: males with glittering fire-red gorget; metallic green above; white pectoral tufts; females green with spots 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
Royal Sunangel
A stunning hummingbird (10-12 cm) endemic to a tiny range in the northern Peruvian Andes at 1,500-2,500 m. Males have a brilliant deep blue throat and forked tail. Classified as Endangered due to extremely restricted range in the Cordillera del Cóndor. Nectarivore of cloud forest.
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.