Rufous-tailed Hummingbird vs Allen's Hummingbird
Amazilia tzacatl compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amazilia tzacatl | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.3 cm (4.4 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.04 g (0.18 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Common lowland nectarivore of Central America; visits Heliconia, banana, and garden flowers. Supplements with insects … | 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
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Deep, resonant trill with buzzing character; powerful churring vibration carrying across open hillside.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Widely distributed from Mexico through Central America to western Ecuador. Resident in varied lowland habitats.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Rufous Coucal: entirely rufous-brown overall; long dark graduated tail; red eye; monochromatic rufous plumage; sexually similar
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) widely distributed from Mexico through Central America to western Ecuador. Green plumage with a rufous tail. Red bill with dark tip. Nectarivore of gardens, forest edges, and second growth. One of the most common Neotropical 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.