Bronze-tailed Thornbill vs Allen's Hummingbird
Chalcostigma heteropogon compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bronze-tailed Thornbill | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chalcostigma heteropogon | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.1 cm (5.6 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.65 g (0.20 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of high Andean grasslands and shrublands; visits Ericaceae and Gentianaceae blooms. Gleans tiny arthropods. | 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
Bronze-tailed Thornbill
Deep, hollow churring with resonant bass; prolonged low buzzing audible at range through open forest edge.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Bronze-tailed Thornbill
Found in high Andean grassland and scrub from Venezuela through Colombia to Ecuador at 2,800–4,200 m.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Bronze-tailed Thornbill
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Bronze-tailed Thornbill
Mangrove Hummingbird: tiny; males with violet gorget; metallic green above; white-spotted 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
Bronze-tailed Thornbill
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests and páramo edges from Venezuela to Peru at 2,500-3,800 m. Green plumage with bronze tail and purple throat (males). Nectarivore of high-altitude shrubs. The largest thornbill in the genus Chalcostigma.
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.