Green-fronted Hummingbird vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Leucolia viridifrons compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green-fronted Hummingbird | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Leucolia viridifrons | 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 | 6.166666666666667 g (0.22 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore visiting diverse flowering plants; supplements the high-sugar nectar diet with small 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
Green-fronted Hummingbird
Deep, hollow churring resonant sound; low-frequency buzzing trill carrying well through humid forest edge.
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
Green-fronted Hummingbird
Endemic to the Pacific slope of Mexico from Sonora to Oaxaca. Resident in tropical deciduous forest.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Green-fronted Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Green-fronted Hummingbird
Buff-headed Coucal: buff-white head; dark brown back; rufous wings; pale underparts; long dark tail; red eye; striking head pattern
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
Green-fronted Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the Pacific slope of Mexico from Sonora to Oaxaca. Males have a green forehead and white breast. Nectarivore of tropical deciduous forest and thorn scrub. A Mexican endemic.
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.