Ruby-throated Hummingbird vs Violet-capped Woodnymph
Archilochus colubris compared with Thalurania glaucopis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Violet-capped Woodnymph |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus colubris | Thalurania glaucopis |
| 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) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) | 4.78 g (0.17 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … | Nectarivore of South Brazilian forest, visiting bromeliads and Heliconia. Supplements with insects and spiders. |
| 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.
Violet-capped Woodnymph
Deep, hollow churr with resonant character; prolonged buzzing sound vibrating softly through tropical canopy.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Violet-capped Woodnymph
Found in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. Resident.
Conservation Status
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Violet-capped Woodnymph
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
Violet-capped Woodnymph
Hartlaub's Bustard: males with dark belly; white underparts; brown-vermiculated above; black crown; pale streaked; sexual dimorphism
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.
Violet-capped Woodnymph
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. Males have a violet-blue crown and green body. Nectarivore of forest and forest edges. Replaced by Fork-tailed Woodnymph in Amazonia.