Brown Violetear vs Allen's Hummingbird
Colibri delphinae compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brown Violetear | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Colibri delphinae | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.6 cm (5.4 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 6.2 g (0.22 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore visiting a wide range of forest-edge and garden flowers. Aggressively defends patches of Salvia … | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Brown Violetear
High, thin twittering barely audible; delicate cascade of minute notes almost imperceptible in dense vegetation.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Brown Violetear
Found in humid forest from Guatemala south through Central America to western Ecuador and Bolivia, and across northern South America. 0–1,800 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
Brown Violetear
Allen's Hummingbird
About These Birds
Brown Violetear
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) with dull brown plumage, unusual among hummingbirds. Found in humid forests from Guatemala through South America to Bolivia. Named for the violet ear patches visible in good light. Nectarivore of forest canopy and edges. Nomadic.
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.