Violet-tailed Sylph vs Allen's Hummingbird
Aglaiocercus coelestis compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Violet-tailed Sylph | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aglaiocercus coelestis | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.4 cm (4.9 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.483333333333334 g (0.19 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore with elongated tail foraging at diverse montane flowers. Catches small arthropods near flowering bromeliads. | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Violet-tailed Sylph
Sharp, emphatic two-note call; first note high and accented, second softer and brief, delivered at measured pace.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Violet-tailed Sylph
Found on the western Andean slope and Pacific foothills of Colombia and Ecuador in humid forest. 300–1,600 m.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Violet-tailed Sylph
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Violet-tailed Sylph
Allen's Hummingbird: males with brilliant copper-orange back; glittering red-orange gorget; green crown; females green above with rufous
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Violet-tailed Sylph
A spectacular hummingbird (10 cm body + 13 cm tail in males) endemic to the western Andes of Colombia and Ecuador at 1,000-2,500 m. Males have dazzling violet-blue outer tail streamers. Nectarivore of cloud forest and forest edges. Replaced by Long-tailed Sylph east of the Andes.
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.