Ruby-throated Hummingbird vs Blue-tailed Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris compared with Saucerottia cyanura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Blue-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus colubris | Saucerottia cyanura |
| 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 | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) | 4.35 g (0.15 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … | Visits flowering trees and epiphytes for nectar; supplements diet with small arthropods including gnats, midges, … |
| 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
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.
Blue-tailed Hummingbird
Soft, pure whistle with plaintive character; gentle wavering tone given quietly in shaded understory.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Blue-tailed Hummingbird
Found in humid forests from Mexico to Costa Rica at 300-1,500 m. Resident on both Pacific and Caribbean slopes.
Conservation Status
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Blue-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Blue-tailed Hummingbird
Kai Coucal: dark brown above with iridescent sheen; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; orange-red eye; island species
About These Birds
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.
Blue-tailed Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in humid forests from Mexico to Costa Rica at 300-1,500 m. Green plumage with a blue tail. Nectarivore of forest edges and gardens. Found on both Pacific and Caribbean slopes of Central America.