Blue-tailed Emerald vs Allen's Hummingbird
Chlorostilbon mellisugus compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blue-tailed Emerald | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlorostilbon mellisugus | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 9.0 cm (3.5 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 2.6466666666666665 g (0.09 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore visiting diverse flowering plants; supplements the high-sugar nectar diet with small insects and 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
Blue-tailed Emerald
Pure, flute-like descending scale; smooth melodic phrase moving cleanly through several notes, warm in timbre.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Blue-tailed Emerald
Widely distributed from Colombia and Venezuela through the Guianas to Trinidad and Tobago. Resident in varied lowland habitats.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Blue-tailed Emerald
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Blue-tailed Emerald
White-throated Hummingbird: males with brilliant green gorget; metallic green above; white throat; females green above; spotted below
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Blue-tailed Emerald
A small hummingbird (7-8 cm) widely distributed from Colombia and Venezuela through the Guianas to Trinidad and Tobago. Bright green plumage with a blue tail. Nectarivore of forest edges, gardens, and open habitats. One of the most common emeralds in northern South America.
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.