Venezuelan Sylph vs Allen's Hummingbird

Aglaiocercus berlepschi compared with Selasphorus sasin

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Venezuelan Sylph Allen's Hummingbird
Scientific Name Aglaiocercus berlepschi Selasphorus sasin
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Vulnerable Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 11.9 cm (4.7 in) 8.1 cm (3.2 in)
Weight 5.0 g (0.18 oz) 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz)
Diet Nectarivore of Venezuelan Andes cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and Fuchsia blooms. Takes small insects and … Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with …
Clutch Size -- 2
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Venezuelan Sylph only

None

Allen's Hummingbird only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Venezuelan Sylph

Song

Rough, buzzy chatter with energetic rhythm; coarse notes delivered rapidly with distinctive raw texture near nest.

Allen's Hummingbird

Song

Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.

Geographic Range & Migration

Venezuelan Sylph

Endemic to the coastal mountains of north-central Venezuela in cloud forest. 1,200–2,400 m. Resident.

Allen's Hummingbird

Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.

Conservation Status

Vulnerable

Venezuelan Sylph

Least Concern

Allen's Hummingbird

About These Birds

Venezuelan Sylph

A spectacular hummingbird closely related to Long-tailed Sylph, endemic to the coastal mountains of northern Venezuela. Males have long violet-blue tail streamers. Nectarivore of cloud forest. Sometimes considered a subspecies of Long-tailed Sylph. Very limited range.

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.

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