Little Woodstar vs Allen's Hummingbird
Chaetocercus bombus compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Little Woodstar | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chaetocercus bombus | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 5.6 cm (2.2 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 6.5 g (0.23 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | One of the world's smallest birds; feeds on nectar from tiny blossoms in humid forest … | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Little Woodstar
Harsh, scratchy buzz with coarse texture; sustained rough vibration with raspy edges carrying across scrub habitat.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Little Woodstar
Found in Andean foothill forests from Colombia to Peru at 800-2,200 m. Classified as Vulnerable due to habitat loss.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Little Woodstar
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Little Woodstar
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird: males with glittering golden-red topaz crown; iridescent ruby gorget; metallic green back; females duller
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Little Woodstar
A tiny hummingbird (7 cm) found in Andean foothill forests from Colombia to Peru at 800-2,200 m. Small even for a woodstar. Purple throat (males). Nectarivore of forest edges. Classified as Vulnerable due to habitat loss. One of the smallest 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.