Golden-crowned Emerald vs Allen's Hummingbird
Cynanthus auriceps compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden-crowned Emerald | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cynanthus auriceps | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 2.2 g (0.08 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Hovering nectarivore of lowland and montane forest, probing Heliconia and garden flowers. Supplements with insects … | 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
Golden-crowned Emerald
Deep, resonant trill with buzzing quality; powerful churring vibration carrying impressively across open slopes.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Golden-crowned Emerald
Endemic to the Pacific slope of western Mexico from Sinaloa to Guerrero. Resident in tropical deciduous forest.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Golden-crowned Emerald
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Golden-crowned Emerald
Charming Hummingbird: males with brilliant violet-blue gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted below
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Golden-crowned Emerald
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to the Pacific slope of western Mexico from Sinaloa to Guerrero. Males have a golden crown and green body. Nectarivore of tropical deciduous and semi-arid forest. A Mexican endemic.
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.