Tyrian Metaltail vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Metallura tyrianthina compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tyrian Metaltail | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Metallura tyrianthina | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 10.8 cm (4.3 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.72 g (0.13 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of high Andean montane shrublands; specializes in Ericaceae and Brachyotum flowers. Catches small insects … | 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
Tyrian Metaltail
Rough, raspy chatter with coarse texture; series of harsh notes with buzzy edges delivered emphatically from perch.
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
Tyrian Metaltail
Widespread in Andean cloud forests and shrubby páramo from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,800–4,200 m.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Tyrian Metaltail
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Tyrian Metaltail
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
Tyrian Metaltail
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) widely distributed in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Bolivia at 1,500-3,500 m. Males have a glittering violet-purple rump and tail. Nectarivore of montane forest. One of the most common and widespread Andean hummingbird species.
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.