Buff-winged Starfrontlet vs Allen's Hummingbird
Coeligena lutetiae compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Buff-winged Starfrontlet | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena lutetiae | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.5 cm (6.1 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 7.025 g (0.25 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Peruvian montane Ericaceae-rich forest. Supplements nectar with small insects and spiders gleaned from … | 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
Buff-winged Starfrontlet
Deep, hollow churring with resonant character; prolonged buzzing sound vibrating persistently through Andean polylepis.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Buff-winged Starfrontlet
Found in high Andean cloud forests of Ecuador and Colombia at 2,400–3,600 m elevation.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Buff-winged Starfrontlet
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Buff-winged Starfrontlet
Andean Hillstar: males with iridescent multicolored gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted buff below
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Buff-winged Starfrontlet
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Peru at 2,400-3,500 m. Green plumage with buff-colored wing patches visible in flight. Nectarivore of montane forest and páramo 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.