Amethyst-throated Sunangel vs Allen's Hummingbird
Heliangelus amethysticollis compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amethyst-throated Sunangel | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliangelus amethysticollis | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.6 cm (5.0 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.433333333333334 g (0.19 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore foraging at Ericaceae shrubs and epiphytic orchids in cloud forest. Gleans small insects from … | 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
Amethyst-throated Sunangel
Soft, descending melodic phrase; gentle notes stepping smoothly down the scale in quiet, unhurried musical progression.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Amethyst-throated Sunangel
Found in Andean cloud forests from southern Peru through Bolivia. 2,400–3,800 m elevation. Resident.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Amethyst-throated Sunangel
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Amethyst-throated Sunangel
Perija Metaltail: deep violet-blue breast shield; shining metallic green above; white postocular stripe; females duller with spotted below
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Amethyst-throated Sunangel
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Bolivia at 2,000-3,500 m. Males have a glittering amethyst-purple throat. Green plumage with rufous underparts. Nectarivore of montane forest and páramo edges.
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.