Violet-capped Hummingbird vs Allen's Hummingbird
Goldmania violiceps compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Violet-capped Hummingbird | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Goldmania violiceps | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 9.9 cm (3.9 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.8666666666666667 g (0.14 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from lowland Panamanian forest flowers. Supplements with insects and spiders foraged from … | 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
Violet-capped Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic ring; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Violet-capped Hummingbird
Found in humid forests from eastern Panama to northwestern Colombia. Resident in lowland forest undergrowth.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Violet-capped Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Violet-capped Hummingbird
Lesser Florican: males with black head and underparts; white wings and neck ruff; brown back; females sandy-brown; very dimorphic
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Violet-capped Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in humid forests from eastern Panama to northwestern Colombia. Green plumage with a violet crown (males). Nectarivore of forest undergrowth and edges. Named after the American ornithologist William Goldman.
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.