Turquoise-throated Puffleg vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Eriocnemis godini comparé à Archilochus colubris

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Turquoise-throated Puffleg Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Nom scientifique Eriocnemis godini Archilochus colubris
Ordre Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Famille Trochilidae Trochilidae
Statut de conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern
Longueur 8,5 cm (3.3 in)
Envergure 11,8 cm (4.6 in) 11,0 cm (4.3 in)
Poids 5,06 g (0.18 oz) 3,1 g (0.11 oz)
Régime alimentaire Nectarivore of Colombian cloud forest; extremely restricted range. Forages at Ericaceae; supplements with small arthropods. Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over …
Taille de la couvée 2 2
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Turquoise-throated Puffleg
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 8,5 cm
Envergure
Turquoise-throated Puffleg 11,8 cm
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 11,0 cm
Poids
Turquoise-throated Puffleg 5,06 g
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3,1 g
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Turquoise-throated Puffleg only

Aucun(e)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird only

Aucun(e)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Deciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, gardens, and parks with flowering plants. Migrates across the Gulf of Mexico.

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Song & Call Comparison

Turquoise-throated Puffleg

Chant

Soft, pure whistle with melodic inflection; gentle ascending note curving smoothly upward, rarely documented vocally.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Chant

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.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Turquoise-throated Puffleg

Historically known from Ecuador and possibly Colombia; possibly extinct or near-extinct. Last confirmed records from Imbabura at 2,400–2,800 m.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.

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Statut de conservation

Not Evaluated

Turquoise-throated Puffleg

Least Concern

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

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How to Tell Them Apart

Turquoise-throated Puffleg

Plumage

Violet-chested Hummingbird: males with glittering deep purple gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green with spots

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Plumage

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.

Bec

Long, straight, thin black bill adapted for probing flowers

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About These Birds

Turquoise-throated Puffleg

A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) known only from historical specimens collected in the 19th century in Colombia or Ecuador. No confirmed modern records. Classified as Critically Endangered, possibly extinct. Turquoise throat (specimens) distinguishes it from other pufflegs.

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.

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