Violet-throated Metaltail vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Metallura baroni comparado con Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Violet-throated Metaltail | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Nombre científico | Metallura baroni | Archilochus colubris |
| Orden | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Familia | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Estado de conservación | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Longitud | — | 8,5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Envergadura | 11,4 cm (4.5 in) | 11,0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Peso | 4,4 g (0.16 oz) | 3,1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Dieta | Nectarivore of Ecuadorian treeline vegetation; specialized for Ericaceae blooms above 3000 m. Catches small arthropods. | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … |
| Tamaño de la puesta | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Hábitats compartidos
Violet-throated Metaltail only
Ruby-throated Hummingbird only
Ninguno
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Deciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, gardens, and parks with flowering plants. Migrates across the Gulf of Mexico.
Song & Call Comparison
Violet-throated Metaltail
Melodic, flute-like phrase with clear quality; smooth notes flowing pleasantly in quiet sequence at forest edge.
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
Violet-throated Metaltail
Endemic to a tiny area in the Cajas plateau region of southwestern Ecuador. 3,000–4,200 m. Critically endangered.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Estado de conservación
Violet-throated Metaltail
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Violet-throated Metaltail
Green-throated Mountain-gem: males with glittering green gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
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
About These Birds
Violet-throated Metaltail
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to the Andes of southern Ecuador at 2,500-3,500 m. Males have a violet-purple throat. Nectarivore of cloud forest and páramo edges. Classified as Endangered due to limited range. Named after Baron Erich von Baroni.
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.