Ruby-throated Hummingbird vs Wine-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris compared with Selasphorus ellioti
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Wine-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus colubris | Selasphorus ellioti |
| 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) | 3.0 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … | Nectarivore of Central American montane forest, visiting flowering epiphytes. Supplements with insects and spiders caught … |
| 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.
Wine-throated Hummingbird
Melodic, descending two-note call; pure warm tones stepping down smoothly, given repeatedly from perch.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Wine-throated Hummingbird
Endemic to the highlands of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras at 1,500-3,000 m. Resident in cloud forest and elfin woodland.
Conservation Status
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Wine-throated 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
Wine-throated Hummingbird
Indigo-capped Hummingbird: males with brilliant indigo cap; glittering green gorget; metallic green above; females green above; spots
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.
Wine-throated Hummingbird
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) endemic to the highlands of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras at 1,500-3,000 m. Males have a wine-red/magenta gorget. Nectarivore of cloud forest and elfin woodland edges. A Central American highland endemic.