Sapphire-throated Hummingbird vs Allen's Hummingbird
Chrysuronia coeruleogularis compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sapphire-throated Hummingbird | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysuronia coeruleogularis | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 4.133333333333333 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
Shared Habitats
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird only
Allen's Hummingbird only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird
High, thin chip note with silvery sibilant ending; soft twittering sequence given quietly during active foraging.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird
Found in tropical lowlands from Honduras to Venezuela and Ecuador. Resident in Caribbean 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
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird
White-browed Coucal: white supercilium; brown-streaked above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; bold eye stripe
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in tropical lowlands from Honduras to Venezuela and Ecuador. Males have a deep sapphire-blue throat. Green body. Nectarivore of forest edges and gardens. Found primarily in Caribbean lowland habitats.
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.