Ruby-throated Hummingbird vs Steely-vented Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris compared with Saucerottia saucerottei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Steely-vented Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus colubris | Saucerottia saucerottei |
| 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) | 4.45 g (0.16 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … | Nectarivore of Colombian Caribbean lowlands, visiting diverse flowering trees. Supplements with insects and spiders. |
| 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.
Steely-vented Hummingbird
Thin, high-pitched twittering barely perceptible; delicate notes cascading gently near high-elevation flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Steely-vented Hummingbird
Found in varied habitats from Colombia to Venezuela. Resident in forest edges, gardens, and open country.
Conservation Status
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Steely-vented 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
Steely-vented Hummingbird
Greater Coucal: glossy blue-black head and underparts; rich chestnut wings; red eye; long graduated black tail; sexually similar
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.
Steely-vented Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in varied habitats from Colombia to Venezuela. Green plumage with a steely-blue vent. Nectarivore of forest edges, gardens, and open country. One of the most common garden hummingbirds in northern South America.