Ruby-throated Hummingbird vs Many-spotted Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris compared with Taphrospilus hypostictus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Many-spotted Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus colubris | Taphrospilus hypostictus |
| 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) | 13.4 cm (5.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) | 7.4 g (0.26 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … | Feeds on nectar from flowering shrubs and epiphytes. Catches small insects and spiders to meet … |
| 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.
Many-spotted Hummingbird
Soft, melodic warbling with gentle flowing character; notes weaving smoothly in quiet phrase through forest.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Many-spotted Hummingbird
Found in humid Andean foothill forests from Colombia to Bolivia at 500-1,800 m. Resident in forest edges.
Conservation Status
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Many-spotted 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
Many-spotted Hummingbird
Scaled Ground-cuckoo: pale buff below with dark scaling; brown above; blue orbital skin; long tail; scaled chest pattern; ground runner
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.
Many-spotted Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in humid Andean foothill forests from Colombia to Bolivia at 500-1,800 m. Green plumage with many buff spots on the underparts. Nectarivore of forest edges and clearings. Named for its distinctive spotted breast.