Ruby-throated Hummingbird vs Superb Fairywren
Archilochus colubris compared with Malurus cyaneus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Superb Fairywren |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus colubris | Malurus cyaneus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Maluridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) | 14.0 cm (5.5 in) |
| Wingspan | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) | 16.0 cm (6.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) | 10.0 g (0.35 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … | Primarily insects and other small invertebrates gleaned from low vegetation. Also takes seeds and small … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2-4 |
| 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.
Superb Fairywren
Dense undergrowth in eucalyptus woodland, gardens, parks, and heath throughout southeastern Australia.
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.
Superb Fairywren
An extremely complex, melodic song: a long series of trills and warbles delivered rapidly. Males sing throughout the day. Alarm is a sharp 'tseet'. Among Australia's finest singers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Superb Fairywren
Southeastern Australia from Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria, to South Australia and Tasmania.
Conservation Status
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Superb Fairywren
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
Superb Fairywren
Breeding males have a brilliant violet-blue crown, ear coverts, and mantle with a black throat band. Non-breeding males and females are plain brown with a blue tail.
Fine, pointed, dark bill
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.
Superb Fairywren
The superb fairywren is one of Australia's most beloved and recognizable birds, with breeding males dressed in spectacular violet-blue plumage. These tiny birds live in cooperative family groups where helpers assist the breeding pair in raising young. Males pluck and present yellow flower petals to females as part of courtship.