Green-fronted Lancebill vs Allen's Hummingbird
Doryfera ludovicae compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green-fronted Lancebill | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Doryfera ludovicae | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.5 cm (4.5 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.95 g (0.21 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing epiphyte flowers and bromeliads with long straight bill in montane forest. Supplements with … | 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
Green-fronted Lancebill
Rough, raspy chattering with energetic rhythm; series of coarse notes delivered rapidly near active foraging territories.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Green-fronted Lancebill
Found in Andean cloud forests from Costa Rica through Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru to Bolivia. 1,200–2,400 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
Green-fronted Lancebill
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Green-fronted Lancebill
Spangled Coquette: males with spectacular white upswept crest; glittering green gorget; females with white-streaked crest; buff-white below
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Green-fronted Lancebill
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) with a remarkably long, straight bill (40 mm). Green plumage with a violet-blue forehead. Found in Andean cloud forests from Costa Rica to Bolivia at 800-2,500 m. Named lancebill for its dagger-like bill used to pierce the base of long tubular flowers.
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.