Long-tailed Sylph vs Allen's Hummingbird
Aglaiocercus kingii compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Long-tailed Sylph | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aglaiocercus kingii | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.7 cm (4.6 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.25 g (0.19 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Andean cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and epiphyte blooms. Supplements diet with small … | 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
Long-tailed Sylph
Melodic, flowing phrase with rich character; warm notes weaving in relaxed sequence typical of dawn chorus activity.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Long-tailed Sylph
Widespread in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,000–2,800 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
Long-tailed Sylph
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Long-tailed Sylph
Rufous Hummingbird: males with brilliant orange-rufous body; iridescent red gorget; females green above; rufous-washed below
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Long-tailed Sylph
A spectacular hummingbird (10 cm body + 13 cm tail in males) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Bolivia at 1,500-3,000 m. Males have extraordinarily long, iridescent violet-blue outer tail feathers. Nectarivore of montane forest edges. A cloud forest icon.
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.