Fire-throated Metaltail vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Metallura eupogon comparé à Archilochus colubris

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Fire-throated Metaltail Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Nom scientifique Metallura eupogon Archilochus colubris
Ordre Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Famille Trochilidae Trochilidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur 8,5 cm (3.3 in)
Envergure 11,9 cm (4.7 in) 11,0 cm (4.3 in)
Poids 4,8 g (0.17 oz) 3,1 g (0.11 oz)
Régime alimentaire Nectarivore of Peruvian high-altitude shrublands; visits Ericaceae and Valeriana flowers. Catches small insects near blooms. 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
Fire-throated Metaltail
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 8,5 cm
Envergure
Fire-throated Metaltail 11,9 cm
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 11,0 cm
Poids
Fire-throated Metaltail 4,8 g
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3,1 g
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Fire-throated Metaltail 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

Fire-throated Metaltail

Chant

Soft, pure whistle with plaintive character; gentle sustained tone with slight wavering, given at dawn from cover.

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

Fire-throated Metaltail

Endemic to Peru in cloud forests and high shrub of the Cordillera Central at 2,800–4,400 m elevation.

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

Least Concern

Fire-throated Metaltail

Least Concern

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

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How to Tell Them Apart

Fire-throated Metaltail

Plumage

White-throated Mountain-gem: males with glittering ruby-green gorget; metallic green above; white throat; females green above; 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

Fire-throated Metaltail

A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the Andes of central and southern Peru at 3,000-4,200 m. Males have a glittering fiery-red throat. Nectarivore of puna scrub and cloud forest edges. A Peruvian endemic found in Polylepis woodland and high-altitude shrubs.

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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