Andean Hillstar vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Oreotrochilus estella compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andean Hillstar | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oreotrochilus estella | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 14.4 cm (5.7 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 8.299999999999999 g (0.29 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of high-altitude puna and páramo; specializes in Chuquiraga and Puya 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
Andean Hillstar
High, wavering trill with trembling quality; rapid series of notes with slight pitch modulation giving vibrato effect.
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
Andean Hillstar
Widespread in Andean puna of southern Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina at 3,000–5,000 m. Resident.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Andean Hillstar
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Andean Hillstar
Santa Marta Woodstar: tiny; males with brilliant magenta-red gorget; metallic green crown; white underparts; 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
Andean Hillstar
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-14 cm) found in the high Andes from Peru to Argentina and Chile at 3,500-5,000 m. Green plumage with a white breast. One of the highest-living hummingbird species, entering torpor at night to survive freezing temperatures. Nectarivore of Chuquiraga and cacti.
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.