Racket-tipped Thorntail vs Allen's Hummingbird
Discosura longicaudus compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Racket-tipped Thorntail | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Discosura longicaudus | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.6 cm (3.4 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.35 g (0.12 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Amazonian forest canopy. Forages at Inga and other legume flowers; supplements with small … | 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
Racket-tipped Thorntail
Melodic, ascending scale of clear notes; bright flute-like tones climbing smoothly, characteristic of morning territorial song.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Racket-tipped Thorntail
Found in humid lowland forest from Colombia and Venezuela east through the Guianas and Amazonian Brazil. 0–600 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
Racket-tipped Thorntail
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Racket-tipped Thorntail
Greenish Puffleg: males brilliant metallic green; glittering blue gorget; white flanks; white leg puffs; females green above with spots
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Racket-tipped Thorntail
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm plus long tail rackets in males) found in humid lowland forests from Venezuela through the Guianas and Amazonia. Males have elongated outer tail feathers with distinctive racket-shaped tips. Nectarivore of forest canopy.
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.