Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird vs Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

How to recognise a rufous-tailed hummingbird?

General appearance

The Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird measures roughly 10 to 12 cm in length. Primarily bright green, it flaunts a reddish-brown and slightly forked tail, from which it gets its name. A white spot behind each eye adds to its allure. Its bill is straight and noticeably reddish in color.

Male vs female

Males and females are indistinguishable by plumage, both boasting the same vibrant green and reddish-brown tones. However, females may be slightly larger in size. During mating seasons, males perform impressive airborne displays to appeal to females.

Juvenile

Juvenile Rufous-Tailed Hummingbirds sport similar coloration to their adult counterparts, making them difficult to distinguish. They might show a more uneven, fluffier feather arrangement and their tail feathers can be shorter. They gain full adult plumage within several weeks after leaving the nest.

Size

3.5 - 4.3 in/0.2 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The rufous-tailed hummingbird is predominantly found in Central America to northern South America and prefers tropical and subtropical humid lowland forests.

Additional range

This species can also thrive in heavily degraded habitats, plantations, and gardens.

Range Map

What do rufous-tailed hummingbirds like to eat?

Natural diet

The rufous-tailed hummingbird primarily feeds on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, including heliconias, hibiscus, and morning glories. This diet provides them with the necessary sugars for energy. Additionally, they consume small insects and spiders, which offer essential proteins and nutrients for maintaining their health and supporting their high metabolism.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, rufous-tailed hummingbirds are often attracted to sugar-water solutions. These feeders replicate the nectar found in flowers, providing an accessible food source for hummingbirds. The solution typically consists of one part sugar dissolved in four parts water, mimicking the composition of natural nectar. They may also visit feeders targeting other hummingbird species if the sugar concentration is suitable.

What does a rufous-tailed hummingbird sound like?

The Rufous-tailed hummingbird often produces sharp, high-pitched, frequently repeated "tsip" calls primarily used as alarm sounds. Their songs are less common, consisting of a variety of twitters, buzzes, and chirps, usually repeated in sequences. Both the songs and calls are typically made while the bird is in flight.

Song

Audio by Gabriel Leite

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

How to recognise a ruby-throated hummingbird?

General appearance

The ruby-throated hummingbird is a small bird with iridescent green plumage on its back and head, and white underparts. It has a slender, straight bill designed for feeding on nectar. Its wings are narrow and enable rapid, agile flight, making a buzzing sound that is often the first indicator of its presence in the wild.

Male vs female

Males are distinguished by their striking ruby-red throat patch, known as a gorget, which can appear black in poor lighting. Their tail feathers are forked with a dark, iridescent blue-green. Females lack the bright throat patch and instead have white underparts with a light spotting or streaking. Their tail feathers are rounded and edged with white.

Juvenile

Juveniles resemble adult females with similar green and white coloring. They lack the distinctive gorget of adult males. As they mature, young males begin to develop the red throat feathers that gradually replace the white of their juvenile plumage. Juveniles have buffy edges to their plumage, especially noticeable on the breast.

Size

2.8 - 3.9 in/0.1 - 0.2 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The ruby-throated hummingbird favors semi-open habitats, which include open woods, forest clearings and edges, gardens, and city parks. It typically resides in these areas during the summer.

Additional range

During winters, it's usually found in open or dry tropical scrub, avoiding rain forests. While migrating, it may rest in any open habitat with flowers.

Range Map

What do ruby-throated hummingbirds like to eat?

Natural diet

The ruby-throated hummingbird primarily consumes nectar and insects. It collects nectar from flowers, showing a preference for tubular flowers such as those of the trumpet vine. Additionally, this bird supplements its diet by feeding on tiny insects.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, the ruby-throated hummingbird is commonly attracted to sugar-water mixtures, which mimic the nectar it finds in nature.

What does a ruby-throated hummingbird sound like?

The ruby-throated hummingbird communicates through mouse-like, twittering squeaks. Its vocalizations typically follow a flat call pattern. The different types of calls it uses range from a buzzing sound to chirps and chips, and even trills. These remarkable sounds create a unique language for this diminutive bird.

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

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Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird

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Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

General appearance

The Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird measures roughly 10 to 12 cm in length. Primarily bright green, it flaunts a reddish-brown and slightly forked tail, from which it gets its name. A white spot behind each eye adds to its allure. Its bill is straight and noticeably reddish in color.

Male vs female

Males and females are indistinguishable by plumage, both boasting the same vibrant green and reddish-brown tones. However, females may be slightly larger in size. During mating seasons, males perform impressive airborne displays to appeal to females.

Juvenile

Juvenile Rufous-Tailed Hummingbirds sport similar coloration to their adult counterparts, making them difficult to distinguish. They might show a more uneven, fluffier feather arrangement and their tail feathers can be shorter. They gain full adult plumage within several weeks after leaving the nest.

Size

3.5 - 4.3 in/0.2 oz

There's more to learn about Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird

View full details

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

General appearance

The ruby-throated hummingbird is a small bird with iridescent green plumage on its back and head, and white underparts. It has a slender, straight bill designed for feeding on nectar. Its wings are narrow and enable rapid, agile flight, making a buzzing sound that is often the first indicator of its presence in the wild.

Male vs female

Males are distinguished by their striking ruby-red throat patch, known as a gorget, which can appear black in poor lighting. Their tail feathers are forked with a dark, iridescent blue-green. Females lack the bright throat patch and instead have white underparts with a light spotting or streaking. Their tail feathers are rounded and edged with white.

Juvenile

Juveniles resemble adult females with similar green and white coloring. They lack the distinctive gorget of adult males. As they mature, young males begin to develop the red throat feathers that gradually replace the white of their juvenile plumage. Juveniles have buffy edges to their plumage, especially noticeable on the breast.

Size

2.8 - 3.9 in/0.1 - 0.2 oz

There's more to learn about Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

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How to tell the Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird from the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Visual differences

The Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird is larger at 3.5 to 4.3 inches, with a bright green body and distinctive reddish-brown tail. Its bill is straight and reddish. In contrast, the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is smaller, 2.8 to 3.9 inches, with green back, white underparts, and a slender, straight bill. Males have a striking ruby-red throat and dark, forked tails, while females have white-edged, rounded tails. The Rufous-Tailed consistently displays reddish tail feathers, whereas the Ruby-Throated exhibits a notable color contrast between males and females.

Key differences and behavior

Rufous-Tailed and Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds exhibit distinct behaviors. Rufous-Tailed are aggressive at feeders, often chasing others away, while Ruby-Throated are less territorial. Rufous-Tailed nest in loose colonies in tropical lowlands, whereas Ruby-Throated prefer solitary nests in temperate open woodlands and migrate to tropical areas in winter. Both species perform aerial courtship displays, but Rufous-Tailed males are dynamic, while Ruby-Throated males perform U-shaped flights. Rufous-Tailed Hummingbirds predominantly reside in Central America, whereas Ruby-Throated are found in eastern North America during breeding seasons. Both species primarily feed on nectar and insects, readily visiting sugar-water feeders. Rufous-Tailed can tolerate degraded habitats, while Ruby-Throated avoid dense rainforests, preferring open spaces with flowers.

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Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird or Ruby-Throated Hummingbird?

Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird

How to recognise a rufous-tailed hummingbird?

Habitat

What do rufous-tailed hummingbirds like to eat?

What does a rufous-tailed hummingbird sound like?

Song

There's more to learn about Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

How to recognise a ruby-throated hummingbird?

Habitat

What do ruby-throated hummingbirds like to eat?

What does a ruby-throated hummingbird sound like?

Call

There's more to learn about Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird

There's more to learn about Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

There's more to learn about Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

How to tell the Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird from the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Visual differences

Key differences and behavior

Still not sure? Here are more lookalikes!

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