Grasshopper Sparrow vs Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Ammodramus savannarum compared with Amazilia tzacatl

Key Differences

• Grasshopper Sparrow is Critically Endangered while Rufous-tailed Hummingbird is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Grasshopper Sparrow	Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Passeriformes (Songbirds)	Apodiformes (Apodiformes)
Family	Passerellidae	Trochilidae
Genus	Ammodramus	Amazilia
Species	Ammodramus savannarum	Amazilia tzacatl

Evolutionary Relationship

Grasshopper Sparrow and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird share a common ancestor at the Class level: Aves. (Birds)

Conservation Status

Grasshopper Sparrow

CR — Critically Endangered

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Grasshopper Sparrow	Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Grasshopper Sparrow

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types spanning the Neotropic and Oceanian realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and United States. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

One of the most common hummingbirds in Central America and northwestern South America, rufous-tailed hummingbirds are medium-sized with green upper parts and a diagnostic bright rufous-orange tail. Found from Mexico to Ecuador and Trinidad in a wide range of habitats including forest edges, gardens, plantations, and secondary growth from sea level to 2,100 meters. Aggressive territory defenders at feeders and flowering plants, they are frequently seen in gardens across their range. Listed as Least Concern.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇨🇴 Colombia 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇳🇴 Norway