Ruby-throated Hummingbird vs Spot-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris compared with Thaumasius taczanowskii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Spot-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus colubris | Thaumasius taczanowskii |
| 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) | — |
| Weight | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) | 6.833333333333333 g (0.24 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … | Nectarivore visiting diverse flowering plants; supplements the high-sugar nectar diet with small insects and spiders … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Ruby-throated Hummingbird only
None
Spot-throated Hummingbird only
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.
Spot-throated Hummingbird
Rapid, mechanical clicking in even dry rhythm; staccato notes forming steady sequence during active day.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Spot-throated Hummingbird
Found in Andean foothills of Peru at 1,500-3,000 m elevation. A Peruvian near-endemic of montane scrub.
Conservation Status
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Spot-throated 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
Spot-throated Hummingbird
Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo: rich rufous below; dark olive-brown above; blue orbital ring; rufous vent; long tail; ground dweller
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.
Spot-throated Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean foothills of Peru at 1,500-3,000 m. Green plumage with spotted throat. Nectarivore of montane scrub and forest edges. Named after the Polish ornithologist Władysław Taczanowski. A Peruvian near-endemic.