Black Inca vs Allen's Hummingbird
Coeligena prunellei compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black Inca | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena prunellei | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 16.0 cm (6.3 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 7.0 g (0.25 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian Pacific slope cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and bromeliads. Gleans small insects 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
Black Inca
Harsh, scratchy chatter with coarse texture; series of rough notes delivered emphatically near territorial boundaries.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Black Inca
Endemic to the western Andes of Colombia at 1,200–2,400 m. Rare and little-known. Endangered.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Black Inca
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Black Inca
Glowing Puffleg: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; glowing green flanks; females green above; spotted
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Black Inca
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) endemic to the eastern Andes of Colombia at 1,400-2,500 m. Entirely black plumage with iridescent blue shoulders, unique among hummingbirds. Nectarivore of cloud forest undergrowth. Classified as Vulnerable due to limited range.
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.