White-bellied Woodstar vs Allen's Hummingbird
Chaetocercus mulsant compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-bellied Woodstar | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chaetocercus mulsant | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 7.8 cm (3.1 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.9 g (0.14 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on floral nectar in Andean cloud forest, favouring small-flowered herbs. Supplements with spiders and … | 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
White-bellied Woodstar
Melodic, pure ascending phrase with bright character; clear notes rising smoothly in animated morning territorial song.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-bellied Woodstar
Found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Bolivia at 1,500-3,500 m elevation. Resident across the northern and central Andes.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
White-bellied Woodstar
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
White-bellied Woodstar
Beautiful Sheartail: males with brilliant violet-purple gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
White-bellied Woodstar
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Bolivia at 1,500-3,500 m. Males have a white belly and iridescent gorget. Nectarivore of forest edges and flowering shrubs. One of the most widespread Andean woodstars.
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.