Versicolored Emerald vs Allen's Hummingbird
Chrysuronia versicolor compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Versicolored Emerald | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysuronia versicolor | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.5599999999999996 g (0.13 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Visits flowering trees and epiphytes for nectar; supplements diet with small arthropods including gnats, midges, … | 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
Versicolored Emerald
Thin, wavering sibilant trill; soft high buzzing with pulsing rhythm during slow courtship hovering display.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Versicolored Emerald
Found in open habitats from Venezuela through Brazil to Argentina. Resident in cerrado, gardens, and forest edges.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Versicolored Emerald
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Versicolored Emerald
Black Coucal: all glossy black; red eye; shorter tail than other coucals; females have rufous wash; sexually dimorphic plumage
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Versicolored Emerald
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in open habitats from Venezuela through Brazil to Argentina. Variable green plumage with blue and white tones. Nectarivore of cerrado, gardens, and forest edges. Named for its variable, multicolored plumage.
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.