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
Song & Call Comparison
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Soft, liquid notes in gentle descending sequence; mellow flowing tones with subtle variation characteristic of species.
Allen's Hummingbird
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
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Bengal Coucal: dark brown above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; common Asian coucal species
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
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.