Purple-backed Sunbeam vs Allen's Hummingbird
Aglaeactis aliciae compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-backed Sunbeam | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aglaeactis aliciae | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 16.2 cm (6.4 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 7.4 g (0.26 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of restricted Peruvian high puna; visits Chuquiraga and cushion-plant flowers. Gleans tiny arthropods. | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Purple-backed Sunbeam
Sharp, buzzy chip followed by rapid trill; emphatic onset launching into rough cascading notes typical of sunbeam.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Purple-backed Sunbeam
Endemic to Peru along the Río Marañón drainage in the arid upper Andes. 2,400–3,800 m. Critically endangered.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Purple-backed Sunbeam
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Purple-backed Sunbeam
Blue-capped Puffleg: males with brilliant blue cap and gorget; metallic green body; white leg puffs; females green above; spotted
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Purple-backed Sunbeam
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) endemic to a small area in the Andes of northern Peru at 2,900-3,500 m. Purple-backed with buff underparts. Nectarivore of montane scrub. Classified as Endangered due to extremely restricted range. One of Peru's rarest hummingbirds.
Allen's Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) breeding along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Males have an orange-red throat and rufous flanks. Closely related to Rufous Hummingbird. Partial migrant; some populations resident on Channel Islands. Named after Thomas Allen.