Ruby-throated Hummingbird vs Grey-bellied Comet
Archilochus colubris compared with Taphrolesbia griseiventris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Grey-bellied Comet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus colubris | Taphrolesbia griseiventris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) | 15.6 cm (6.1 in) |
| Weight | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) | 8.94 g (0.32 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … | Nectarivore of Peruvian dry inter-Andean valleys; visits sparse Chuquiraga blooms. Supplements with small 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.
Grey-bellied Comet
Crisp, musical chip with bright quality; single sharp note ringing cleanly, repeated at irregular but frequent intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Grey-bellied Comet
Endemic to the western Andean slope in Peru in arid scrub and intermontane valleys. 2,400–3,800 m. Highly restricted range.
Conservation Status
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Grey-bellied Comet
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
Grey-bellied Comet
White-bellied Woodstar: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white postocular stripe; 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.
Grey-bellied Comet
A medium-sized hummingbird (15-18 cm including long tail) endemic to a small range in the Andes of Peru at 3,000-3,500 m. Grey belly and long, forked tail. Nectarivore. Classified as Endangered due to an extremely restricted range. One of the rarest Andean hummingbirds.