Greenish Puffleg vs Allen's Hummingbird
Haplophaedia aureliae compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Greenish Puffleg | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Haplophaedia aureliae | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.4 cm (4.5 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.666666666666667 g (0.20 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Andean cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and epiphyte flowers in wet mossy habitats. Catches … | 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
Greenish Puffleg
Thin, sibilant twittering with silver quality; high airy notes cascading softly near flowering canopy trees.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Greenish Puffleg
Found on both Andean slopes from Panama south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 800–2,800 m elevation.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Greenish Puffleg
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Greenish Puffleg
Sparkling Violetear: males with brilliant iridescent blue gorget; metallic green body; violet ear patch; females green with spots below
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Greenish Puffleg
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Peru at 900-2,500 m. Green plumage with fluffy white leg puffs. Nectarivore of montane forest understory. Named puffleg for the distinctive cotton-like tufts on the legs.
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.