Gorgeted Woodstar vs Allen's Hummingbird
Chaetocercus heliodor compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Gorgeted Woodstar | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chaetocercus heliodor | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 6.1 cm (2.4 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 2.225 g (0.08 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of subtropical Andean slopes, visiting diverse flowering herbs. Supplements nectar with small arthropods gleaned … | 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
Gorgeted Woodstar
High, thin whistle barely perceptible; delicate sustained note at extreme frequency, rarely detectable by human ear.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Gorgeted Woodstar
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Ecuador at 800-2,200 m elevation. Resident in montane forest edges.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Gorgeted Woodstar
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Gorgeted Woodstar
Vervain Hummingbird: world's 2nd smallest bird; males with violet gorget; metallic green above; females pale below; tiny size
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Gorgeted Woodstar
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Ecuador at 800-2,200 m. Males have a glittering green and blue gorget. Nectarivore of forest edges and gardens. Named for its spectacular jewel-like throat plumage.
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.