Ruby-throated Hummingbird vs Calliope Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris compared with Selasphorus calliope
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Calliope Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus colubris | Selasphorus calliope |
| 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) | 8.3 cm (3.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) | 2.7633333333333336 g (0.10 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … | Smallest breeding bird in North America; feeds on mountain meadow nectar and supplements with small … |
| 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.
Calliope Hummingbird
Rough, coarse chatter with energetic delivery; rapid series of harsh notes tumbling quickly in vigorous exchange.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Calliope Hummingbird
Breeds in mountain meadows of western North America from British Columbia to Utah. Long-distance migrant wintering in Mexico.
Conservation Status
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Calliope 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
Calliope Hummingbird
Violet-crowned Woodnymph: males with iridescent violet crown and gorget; metallic green above; females green above; spotted below
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.
Calliope Hummingbird
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm), the smallest breeding bird in the United States. Males have an iridescent magenta-pink gorget. Breeds in mountain meadows of the western US and Canada. Long-distance migrant to Mexico. Named for its resemblance to the beautiful Calliope of Greek mythology.