Rufous-breasted Hermit vs Allen's Hummingbird
Glaucis hirsutus compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rufous-breasted Hermit | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Glaucis hirsutus | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.8 cm (4.6 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 6.533333333333334 g (0.23 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar-dependent hummingbird harvesting energy-rich floral rewards; dietary protein from small arthropods. | 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
Rufous-breasted Hermit
Soft, high squeaking notes in loose sequence; gentle twittering with intermittent pauses, barely carrying beyond close range.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Rufous-breasted Hermit
Found from Trinidad and the Guianas south through Amazonia, and coastal regions from Colombia to Brazil. Resident in forest edge and gardens.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Rufous-breasted Hermit
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Rufous-breasted Hermit
Bronze-green upperparts; rich rufous-orange breast and flanks contrasting with whitish belly; pale supercilium; rufous tail with dark subterminal band; widespread Neotropical hermit with brighter rufous breast than Bronzy Hermit.
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Rufous-breasted Hermit
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-12 cm) found in humid forests and mangroves from Central America to Brazil and Trinidad. Green plumage with rufous breast and curved bill. Nectarivore visiting Heliconia, bananas, and other large-flowered tropical plants in forest undergrowth.
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.