Ruby-topaz Hummingbird vs Allen's Hummingbird
Chrysolampis mosquitus compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruby-topaz Hummingbird | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysolampis mosquitus | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 10.8 cm (4.3 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.75 g (0.13 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of savanna, garden, and scrub flowers in open lowlands. Catches small insects in brief … | 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
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird
Soft, melodic warbling with lilting rhythm; gentle notes rising and falling in unhurried phrases through shaded thicket.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird
Found from Trinidad and Venezuela through the Guianas and Amazonian Brazil to Colombia. Prefers dry open woodland. 0–1,000 m.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird
Glittering-bellied Emerald: shining bronze-green above; glittering violet-purple gorget; white underparts; females green above with spotted throat
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird
A small, brilliantly colored hummingbird (8-9 cm). Males have a glittering ruby-red crown and golden-orange throat and breast, among the most vivid colors of any hummingbird. Found from Central America to Brazil and Trinidad. Nectarivore of open country, gardens, and forest edges.
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.