Violet-fronted Brilliant vs Allen's Hummingbird
Heliodoxa leadbeateri compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Violet-fronted Brilliant | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliodoxa leadbeateri | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.4 cm (5.3 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 7.183333333333334 g (0.25 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and Passiflora. 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
Violet-fronted Brilliant
Broad, resonant whistle with bold projection; deep pure tone ringing out powerfully across open montane forest.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Violet-fronted Brilliant
Widespread in Andean foothill and cloud forest from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 400–2,000 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
Violet-fronted Brilliant
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Violet-fronted Brilliant
Rufous-shafted Woodstar: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; rufous-shafted tail; females green above; spots
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Violet-fronted Brilliant
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Bolivia at 400-2,200 m. Males have a brilliant violet forehead. Nectarivore of montane forest and forest edges. Widespread in the Andean foothills.
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.