Velvet-purple Coronet vs Allen's Hummingbird
Boissonneaua jardini compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Velvet-purple Coronet | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Boissonneaua jardini | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 9.4 g (0.33 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian Pacific slope cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and Heliconia. Supplements with small arthropods. | 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
Velvet-purple Coronet
Harsh, grating screech with urgent tone; sudden loud rough call given sharply during aerial chase encounter.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Velvet-purple Coronet
Found on the Pacific slope of the Andes in Colombia and northwestern Ecuador in cloud forest. 500–1,800 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
Velvet-purple Coronet
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Velvet-purple Coronet
Rainbow Starfrontlet: males with brilliant magenta-orange gorget; metallic green above; white belly; females green above; spotted below
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Velvet-purple Coronet
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in cloud forests of western Colombia and Ecuador at 1,200-2,400 m. Males have dark velvety-purple plumage with green iridescence. Nectarivore of Chocó cloud forest. A striking, dark-plumaged hummingbird.
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.