Ruby-throated Hummingbird vs Fiery Topaz
Archilochus colubris compared with Topaza pyra
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Fiery Topaz |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus colubris | Topaza pyra |
| 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) | 15.2 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) | 12.8 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … | Primarily nectar-feeding; uses exceptionally curved bill to access heliconia blossoms; 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.
Fiery Topaz
Gentle, whistled three-note phrase with falling inflection; soft, pure tones delivered slowly with expressive melodic quality.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Fiery Topaz
Found in the western Amazon basin from Colombia and Ecuador south to Peru and Bolivia. Resident in lowland and foothill forest along rivers.
Conservation Status
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Fiery Topaz
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
Fiery Topaz
Males fiery orange-red body with glittering golden-orange gorget; elongated crossed purplish tail feathers; female bronze-green above, cinnamon below; Amazonian species with slightly more orange tone than Crimson Topaz.
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.
Fiery Topaz
A spectacular, large hummingbird (18-20 cm) of the western Amazon basin. Male has a brilliant fiery-red throat and breast with iridescent golden-green upperparts. Nectarivore of lowland rainforest canopy. Found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and western Brazil. Visits Heliconia and other large tropical flowers.