Perija Metaltail vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Metallura iracunda compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Perija Metaltail | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Metallura iracunda | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 11.6 cm (4.6 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.8499999999999996 g (0.14 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian cloud forest edges; forages at Ericaceae and epiphyte flowers. Supplements with small … | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 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
Perija Metaltail
Soft, liquid notes with gentle character; mellow flowing sequence with subtle melodic variation in humid forest.
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
Perija Metaltail
Endemic to the Serranía de Perijá on the Colombia–Venezuela border in cloud forest. 2,000–3,200 m. Restricted range.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Perija Metaltail
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Perija Metaltail
Plain-capped Starthroat: males iridescent magenta gorget; metallic bronze-green above; white flanks; females green above; 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
Perija Metaltail
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to the Sierra de Perijá on the Colombia-Venezuela border at 2,400-3,200 m. Males have purple-red tail. Nectarivore of cloud forest. Classified as Endangered due to extremely restricted range and ongoing deforestation.
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.