Charming Hummingbird vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Polyerata decora compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Charming Hummingbird | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polyerata decora | 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 | 4.335 g (0.15 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Visits flowering trees and epiphytes for nectar; supplements diet with small arthropods including gnats, midges, … | 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
Charming Hummingbird
High, crystalline notes in animated ascending phrase; clear bright tones climbing smoothly in energetic 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
Charming Hummingbird
Found in humid forests from Costa Rica to western Panama. Resident in lowland and foothill forest.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Charming Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Charming Hummingbird
Bornean Ground-cuckoo: dark iridescent green-black above; rufous underparts; blue orbital ring; long tail; ground-dwelling; cobalt blue
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
Charming Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in humid forests from Costa Rica to western Panama. Green plumage with a blue breast. Nectarivore of forest edges. Closely related to Blue-chested Hummingbird. A Central American near-endemic.
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.