Cinnamon-sided Hummingbird vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Leucolia wagneri compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cinnamon-sided Hummingbird | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Leucolia wagneri | 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 | 6.3 g (0.22 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from flowering shrubs and epiphytes. Catches small insects and spiders to meet … | 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
Cinnamon-sided Hummingbird
Pure, bell-like descending phrase; clear resonant tones stepping downward smoothly in musical sequence.
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
Cinnamon-sided Hummingbird
Found in montane forests from Mexico to Honduras at 1,000-2,500 m. Resident in pine-oak and cloud forest.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Cinnamon-sided Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Cinnamon-sided Hummingbird
Black-hooded Coucal: black hood and mantle; rufous-brown wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; bold black and rufous
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
Cinnamon-sided Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in montane forests from Mexico to Honduras at 1,000-2,500 m. Green plumage with cinnamon flanks. Nectarivore of pine-oak and cloud forest. Named after the German collector Moritz Wagner.
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.