Gould's Brilliant vs Allen's Hummingbird
Heliodoxa aurescens compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Gould's Brilliant | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliodoxa aurescens | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.2 cm (4.8 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.975 g (0.21 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Ecuadorian and Peruvian cloud forest; aggressively defends Ericaceae patches. Takes small insects for … | 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
Gould's Brilliant
Soft, pure whistle with tremulous quality; gentle wavering note given quietly from shaded perch in dense thicket.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Gould's Brilliant
Found in Amazonian lowland forest from Colombia and Venezuela south through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia to Brazil. 0–1,000 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
Gould's Brilliant
Allen's Hummingbird
About These Birds
Gould's Brilliant
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in humid lowland forests from eastern Colombia through the Guianas to Bolivia and Brazil. Green plumage with iridescent golden-green breast. Nectarivore of Amazonian forest canopy and edges. Named after John Gould.
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.