Short-tailed Emerald vs Allen's Hummingbird
Chlorostilbon poortmani compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Short-tailed Emerald | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlorostilbon poortmani | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.2 cm (3.2 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.5 g (0.12 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from scrub and forest-edge flowers in Colombia and Venezuela. Supplements with small … | 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
Short-tailed Emerald
Thin, reedy chip note with soft delivery; barely audible single staccato sound given from dense cover.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Short-tailed Emerald
Found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Venezuela at 1,500-2,800 m elevation. Resident in montane forest.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Short-tailed Emerald
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Short-tailed Emerald
Polyerata hummingbird: males with glittering green gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; 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
Short-tailed Emerald
A small hummingbird (7-8 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Venezuela at 1,500-2,800 m. Green plumage with a notably short tail. Nectarivore of montane forest undergrowth and edges. Named for its unusually short tail for an emerald.
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.