gray wolf vs Long-billed Starthroat

Canis lupus compared with Heliomaster longirostris

Key Differences

• gray wolf is Critically Endangered while Long-billed Starthroat is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	gray wolf	Long-billed Starthroat
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Apodiformes (Apodiformes)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Trochilidae
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Heliomaster
Species	Canis lupus	Heliomaster longirostris

Evolutionary Relationship

gray wolf and Long-billed Starthroat share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

gray wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Long-billed Starthroat

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	gray wolf	Long-billed Starthroat
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	13 years	—
Average Length	1.6 m	—
Average Weight	45.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

gray wolf

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, deserts and xeric shrublands, and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, among 13 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Seychelles), Asia (Japan), Europe (5 countries), North America (7 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Marshall Islands, Vanuatu), and South America (5 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Long-billed Starthroat

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.

gray wolf

The most widely distributed wild canid, gray wolves range from North America across Eurasia in diverse habitats including tundra, forests, and grasslands. Highly social animals living in family packs led by a dominant breeding pair. As keystone predators, wolves regulate prey populations and profoundly shape ecosystem structure, as demonstrated by their reintroduction in Yellowstone. Once heavily persecuted, populations are recovering in many regions.

Long-billed Starthroat

A large, distinctive hummingbird with an unusually long, straight bill, males display a striking iridescent green gorget with a prominent white post-ocular spot — the starthroat mark that names the species. Found from Mexico through Central America and into tropical South America east of the Andes at elevations up to 1,500 meters. They inhabit forest edges, clearings, and gardens, perching conspicuously on exposed branches at the tops of trees — unusual for hummingbirds that typically forage while hovering.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇨🇴 Colombia 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇳🇴 Norway