Violet Sabrewing vs Allen's Hummingbird
Campylopterus hemileucurus compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Violet Sabrewing | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Campylopterus hemileucurus | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.1 cm (5.9 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 11.025 g (0.39 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Large sabrewing; feeds on nectar from Heliconia and bromeliads in humid forest. 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
Violet Sabrewing
Deep, resonant trill with powerful bass quality; low-frequency churring vibrating through dense forest canopy.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Violet Sabrewing
Found in humid montane forests from southern Mexico to Panama at 500-2,500 m. Resident in cloud forest undergrowth.
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 Sabrewing
Allen's Hummingbird
About These Birds
Violet Sabrewing
A large hummingbird (14-15 cm), the largest hummingbird in Central America. Males have brilliant violet-purple plumage with white outer tail feathers. Found in humid montane forests from Mexico to Panama. Nectarivore of cloud forest undergrowth, visiting Heliconia and banana flowers.
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.