Blue-tufted Starthroat vs Allen's Hummingbird
Heliomaster furcifer compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blue-tufted Starthroat | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliomaster furcifer | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 10.8 cm (4.3 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.7 g (0.20 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of open Argentine and Bolivian habitats; visits diverse shrub flowers. Catches small insects in … | 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
Blue-tufted Starthroat
Buzzy, insect-like trill with rapid modulation; high-frequency buzz sustained briefly then repeated after pause.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Blue-tufted Starthroat
Found from Bolivia and Brazil south to Argentina and Uruguay in open woodland and scrub. Sea level to 1,500 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
Blue-tufted Starthroat
Allen's Hummingbird
About These Birds
Blue-tufted Starthroat
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in open habitats from Venezuela and the Guianas through Brazil to Argentina. Green plumage with blue throat tufts (males) and a long, forked tail. Nectarivore of savanna, gardens, and forest edges. Widespread in southern South America.
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.