Neblina Metaltail vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Metallura odomae compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Neblina Metaltail | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Metallura odomae | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 11.6 cm (4.6 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.050000000000001 g (0.18 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of northern Peruvian montane forest; visits Ericaceae and mossy shrub flowers. Supplements with small … | 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
Neblina Metaltail
High, thin twittering cascade; delicate light notes tumbling quickly in animated sequence during aerial display.
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
Neblina Metaltail
Endemic to a restricted area of the Andes in northern Peru (Cajamarca and Amazonas) at 2,600–3,800 m elevation.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Neblina Metaltail
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Neblina Metaltail
White-bellied Mountain-gem: males with iridescent violet gorget; metallic bronze-green above; white belly; females green above with spots
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
Neblina Metaltail
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to the Andes of northern Peru at 2,700-3,500 m. Males have iridescent tail. Nectarivore of cloud forest. Named for the Cerros de Neblina region. A poorly known Peruvian endemic with a limited range.
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.