Horned Sungem vs Allen's Hummingbird
Heliactin bilophus compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Horned Sungem | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliactin bilophus | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 9.6 cm (3.8 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 2.3 g (0.08 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of open savanna and cerrado, visiting small flowers of grasses and shrubs. Catches tiny … | 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
Horned Sungem
Melodic, rolling phrase with rich timbre; warm, musical notes tumbling loosely in pleasant sequence at midday.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Horned Sungem
Found in cerrado, caatinga, and dry open habitats across central Brazil from Maranhão to Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso. 300–1,100 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
Horned Sungem
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Horned Sungem
Green-tailed Goldenthroat: males with glittering emerald gorget and violet crown; females green above; pale buff with green-spotted flanks
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Horned Sungem
A spectacular small hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the cerrado of central Brazil. Males have two erect, horn-like iridescent violet-blue feather tufts projecting from the sides of the head. Green and white plumage. Nectarivore of cerrado flowers. The only member of its genus.
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.