Hummingbirds are one of nature’s most captivating creatures. Their jewel-toned feathers shimmer in the sunlight as their wings beat up to 80 times per second, allowing them to hover and dart swiftly from flower to flower. Though small, hummingbirds have an outsized presence in gardens and backyards where their acrobatic flights and bold personalities charm lucky observers.
Given their distinctive appearance and behavior, one may reasonably assume that any bird that looks and acts like a hummingbird must be a hummingbird. However, this is not always the case. There are a few other birds that bear a striking resemblance to hummingbirds and could potentially be mistaken for them on first glance. Knowing the differences between true hummingbirds and their lookalike cousins can save birdwatchers from making a hasty misidentification.
In this article, we will explore three birds that are frequently confused with hummingbirds due to similarities in size, shape, and behavior. Though they share some superficial hummingbird-like traits, they belong to completely different families of birds. Learning to distinguish these hummingbird imposters from the real thing is an important skill for amateur birders hoping to accurately identify the species visiting their feeders and flowers.
Moth
One creature that is commonly confused with a hummingbird is actually an insect – the hummingbird moth. There are over 1,000 species of hummingbird moths in the family Sphingidae, and many do an excellent job of masquerading as their avian counterparts.
When in flight, hummingbird moths can be tricky to tell apart from real hummingbirds. These moths have fast-beating wings that enable them to hover in midair and dart from flower to flower. This feeding behavior, along with their small size and often colorful markings, allows them to perfectly mimic hummingbirds as they gather nectar.
Up close, however, some differences become more apparent. Hummingbird moths have two feathery antennae protruding from their heads that no bird species possesses. Their wings also differ in structure, with moth wings being covered in tiny scales rather than layered with feathers. When perched, a moth will hold its wings together over its back in a vertical tent-like shape rather than folded at its sides horizontally like a bird.
Additionally, moths have six legs extending from their bodies, while birds have only two visible legs. And unlike hummingbirds, moth species that mimic them do not have specialized beaks and tongues for drinking nectar. They instead have a long proboscis that uncurls to siphon up flowers’ sweet rewards.
With close observation, the insect nature of hummingbird moths becomes obvious. But from a distance, they can still fool even seasoned birdwatchers with their remarkable resemblance. Keep an eye out for moth antennae, tent-shaped wings, and hovering flight pattern, and you can correctly differentiate them from true hummingbirds.
Olive-backed Sunbird
One of the most common bird species mistaken for a hummingbird is the olive-backed sunbird. This small Old World species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, southern Arabia, southern Asia, and Australasia. Males have metallic feathers in bright olive-green, yellow, and burnt orange hues that glimmer in the sun.
At first glance, the olive-backed sunbird appears remarkably hummingbird-like. Its tiny size – measuring only 7 to 9 cm long – is very similar to many hummingbird species. And like a hummingbird, the olive-backed sunbird can hover in midair as it collects nectar from flowers. Its slender downcurved bill is specially adapted for nectar-feeding in the same way as a hummingbird’s.
But despite these similarities, the olive-backed sunbird does not belong to the hummingbird family Trochilidae. Instead, it is a member of the sunbird family Nectariniidae. Sunbirds fill an ecological niche in the Old World similar to the niche occupied by hummingbirds in the New World, convergently evolving many hummingbird-like adaptations for feeding on nectar. Beyond hovering flight and slender bills, sunbirds share other qualities like iridescent plumage and aggressive territorial behavior.
While they occupy the same feeding niche, there are subtle structural differences between sunbirds and hummingbirds. Sunbirds have proportionally shorter and less specialized tongues. Their feet are also larger and stronger than a hummingbird’s tiny feet. And female and juvenile sunbirds lack the bright metallic plumage of adult males. So with close inspection, sunbirds can be distinguished from hummingbirds based on anatomical and plumage details. But from afar, their similarities may cause them to be wrongly assumed to be hummingbirds by the casual observer.
Mountain Gems
The mountain gems are a group of hummingbird-like birds found only on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea. Hispaniola is home to two mountain gem species: the Antillean emerald and the Hispaniolan emerald. Both belong to the hummingbird family Trochilidae.
As their name indicates, mountain gems closely resemble tiny jewel-colored hummingbirds at first look. Adult males of both species display glossy green plumage on their heads, backs, and wing covers. Their throats and breasts are brilliantly iridescent in hues ranging from blue to purple. And like other hummingbirds, mountain gems can precisely hover and maneuver through the air with great agility.
But mountain gems possess key differences that distinguish them from all other hummingbirds. Most conspicuously, their bills are dramatically longer and more slender than a typical hummingbird’s bill. Mountain gems also have shorter wings and tails relative to their body size compared to other hummingbirds.
These adaptations allow mountain gems to specialize in accessing nectar from particularly long and slender flowers that are abundant in their Caribbean mountain habitat. Other tropical hummingbirds with differently shaped bills are unable to exploit these flowers, giving mountain gems an important ecological niche on Hispaniola.
So while mountain gems belong to the hummingbird family, they have diverged significantly from mainland hummingbird anatomy to create new specialist forms. Birders who observe the combination of hummingbird-like hovering flight with disproportionately elongated bills can confidently identify spotting one of Hispaniola’s unique endemic hummingbirds.
How to Tell a Hummingbird from an Imposter
To quickly determine if a hovering, nectar-feeding bird is a true hummingbird versus a lookalike imposter, check for the following key hummingbird features:
- Small size, usually measuring 3 to 5 inches long
- Short, straight bills (except in mountain gems)
- Throat feathers forming colorful iridescent gorgets (in males of most species)
- Rapid wingbeat creating distinctive humming sound
- Two legs extending backward from the body
- Wings at rest held together over the back
Any bird lacking most or all of these traits is likely to be a hummingbird lookalike from a different family, such as a sunbird or mountain gem. Hummingbird-mimicking insects can be identified by their six legs, antennae, and tent-shaped wings.
With good lighting and a clear view, differentiation is straightforward. But in poor light or at a distance, imposter species may momentarily fool even skilled birders. Taking time to note key field marks remains essential to confirm a sighting as a true New World hummingbird.
Conclusion
While several birds and insects have evolved to closely resemble hummingbirds, ornithological experts can identify subtle differences that distinguish lookalikes. Carefully observing features like wing structure, legs, antennae, bill shape, and gorget feathers allows birders to confidently separate true hummingbirds from their imposter cousins. Being able to make this determination accurately is an important ID skill for amateur bird enthusiasts hoping to keep proper records of the species they encounter. With practice and patience during observation, birders can master the ability to tell a hummingbird from its mimics when a flashy hoverer visits their feeder or garden.
