Ruby-throated Hummingbird vs Bumblebee Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris compared with Selasphorus heloisa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Bumblebee Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus colubris | Selasphorus heloisa |
| 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) | 2.35 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … | Feeds on floral nectar in pine-oak highlands of Mexico, hovering at small tubular blooms. Gleans … |
| Clutch Size | 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.
Bumblebee Hummingbird
Thin, high whistle with delicate quality; soft pure note barely audible beyond close range in undergrowth.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Bumblebee Hummingbird
Endemic to the mountains of Mexico at 1,800-3,500 m elevation. Resident in pine-oak and cloud forest edges.
Conservation Status
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Bumblebee 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
Bumblebee Hummingbird
Steely-vented Hummingbird (alt): males with steel-blue gorget; metallic green above; steel-blue tail; females green above; spotted
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.
Bumblebee Hummingbird
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) endemic to the mountains of Mexico at 1,800-3,500 m. Males have a magenta gorget. Named for its resemblance to a bumblebee in size. Nectarivore of pine-oak and cloud forest. One of the smallest hummingbirds in Mexico.