Eastern Bluebird vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Sialia sialis в сравнении с Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Характеристика | Eastern Bluebird | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Научное название | Sialia sialis | Archilochus colubris |
| Отряд | Passeriformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Семейство | Turdidae | Trochilidae |
| Охранный статус | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Длина | 17,5 cm (6.9 in) | 8,5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Размах крыльев | 27,0 cm (10.6 in) | 11,0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Масса | 31,0 g (1.09 oz) | 3,1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Питание | Insects in summer, berries in winter. Hunts from low perches, dropping to the ground to … | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … |
| Размер кладки | 4-5 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Eastern Bluebird
Open woodland, farmland edges, orchards, and parks with scattered trees and open ground. Readily uses nest boxes.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Deciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, gardens, and parks with flowering plants. Migrates across the Gulf of Mexico.
Song & Call Comparison
Eastern Bluebird
A rich, melodious warbled 'chur-wi, tur-a-lee' song. Both sexes sing. Call is a soft, musical 'turee'. Song is gentle and flute-like, suggesting a small thrush. Given from exposed perch.
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
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to Honduras and Nicaragua. Partially migratory.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Охранный статус
Eastern Bluebird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Eastern Bluebird
Males are vivid royal blue above with a rusty-red breast and white belly. Females are grey-blue with a paler rust breast.
Short, thin, dark bill
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
Eastern Bluebird
The eastern bluebird is a beloved symbol of happiness in North America. Once declining due to habitat loss and competition from introduced species, populations recovered dramatically thanks to a massive citizen science nest box campaign. These gentle thrushes form loose winter flocks and huddle together in nest boxes during cold snaps.
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.