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

Shared Habitats

Little Woodstar only

None

Allen's Hummingbird only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Little Woodstar

Song

Harsh, scratchy buzz with coarse texture; sustained rough vibration with raspy edges carrying across scrub habitat.

Allen's Hummingbird

Song

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

Near Threatened

Little Woodstar

Least Concern

Allen's Hummingbird

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.

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