Sapphire-spangled Emerald vs Allen's Hummingbird

Chionomesa lactea compared with Selasphorus sasin

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Sapphire-spangled Emerald Allen's Hummingbird
Scientific Name Chionomesa lactea Selasphorus sasin
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 8.1 cm (3.2 in)
Weight 4.333333333333333 g (0.15 oz) 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz)
Diet Feeds on floral nectar in forest understory, hovering at Heliconia and bromeliads. Supplements with spiders … Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with …
Clutch Size 2 2
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Sapphire-spangled Emerald only

None

Allen's Hummingbird only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Sapphire-spangled Emerald

Song

Soft, liquid notes in gentle descending sequence; mellow flowing tones with subtle variation characteristic of species.

Allen's Hummingbird

Song

Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.

Geographic Range & Migration

Sapphire-spangled Emerald

Found in eastern and southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina. Resident in Atlantic Forest edges and cerrado.

Allen's Hummingbird

Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Sapphire-spangled Emerald

Least Concern

Allen's Hummingbird

About These Birds

Sapphire-spangled Emerald

A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in eastern and southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina. Green plumage with sapphire-blue throat spots. Nectarivore of Atlantic Forest edges, cerrado, and gardens. Named for its sapphire-spangled throat.

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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