White-chinned Sapphire vs Allen's Hummingbird
Chlorestes cyanus compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-chinned Sapphire | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlorestes cyanus | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.35 g (0.12 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from flowering shrubs and epiphytes. Catches small insects and spiders to meet … | 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
White-chinned Sapphire
Pure, bell-like descending phase; clear resonant tones stepping smoothly down in musical evening sequence.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-chinned Sapphire
Found in humid lowland forests from Colombia through the Guianas to Amazonia and Brazil. Resident.
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-chinned Sapphire
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
White-chinned Sapphire
Crested Coua: blue-gray body; white below; brilliant blue and red bare facial skin; long tail; white-tipped; Madagascar endemic
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
White-chinned Sapphire
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in humid lowland forests from Colombia through the Guianas to Amazonia and Brazil. Green plumage with a blue or white chin. Nectarivore of forest canopy and edges. Named sapphire for the blue chin.
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.