Ruby-throated Hummingbird vs Rufous Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris compared with Selasphorus rufus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Rufous Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus colubris | Selasphorus rufus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) | 3.72 g (0.13 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … | Highly migratory nectarivore visiting a wide diversity of western North American flowers. Supplements with insects … |
| 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.
Rufous Hummingbird
Soft, liquid notes with gentle melancholy; mellow flowing sequence with subtle sadness in quiet forest.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Rufous Hummingbird
Breeds from Alaska south to Oregon. Migrates up to 6,400 km to winter in Mexico, the longest migration relative to body size of any bird.
Conservation Status
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rufous 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
Rufous Hummingbird
Green-crowned Woodnymph: males with glittering green crown; violet-blue 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.
Rufous Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) known for its extraordinary migration, traveling up to 6,400 km between breeding grounds in Alaska and wintering areas in Mexico. Males have a brilliant orange-red gorget. The longest migration relative to body size of any bird.