Ruby-throated Hummingbird vs Volcano Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris compared with Selasphorus flammula
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Volcano Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus colubris | Selasphorus flammula |
| 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) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) | 2.6999999999999997 g (0.10 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … | Highland nectarivore of Costa Rican volcanoes, feeding at Fuchsia and bromeliads. Captures small arthropods for … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Ruby-throated Hummingbird only
None
Volcano Hummingbird only
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.
Volcano Hummingbird
Sharp, crackling trill with percussive edge; rapid dry notes delivered forcefully during territorial encounter.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Volcano Hummingbird
Endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica at 1,800-3,500 m, particularly around volcanic peaks. Resident in páramo and elfin forest.
Conservation Status
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Volcano 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
Volcano Hummingbird
Snowy-bellied Hummingbird: males with iridescent green gorget; metallic green above; white belly; 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.
Volcano Hummingbird
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica at 1,800-3,500 m, particularly around volcanic peaks. Males have a brilliantly colored gorget varying geographically from magenta to gray-purple. Nectarivore of páramo and high-elevation gardens.