Black-eared Fairy vs Allen's Hummingbird
Heliothryx auritus compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-eared Fairy | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliothryx auritus | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.0 cm (5.1 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.15 g (0.18 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore robbing nectar from large flowers in forest canopy. Gleans small spiders and soft-bodied insects … | 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
Black-eared Fairy
Soft, liquid notes in gentle cascade; flowing sequence of mellow tones with subtle tremolo in misty montane forest.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Black-eared Fairy
Widespread in Amazonian lowlands from the Guianas south through Brazil and west to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 0–700 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
Black-eared Fairy
Allen's Hummingbird
About These Birds
Black-eared Fairy
A slender, elegant hummingbird (11-12 cm) with a long, forked tail, glittering green plumage, and bold black ear patches. Found in humid lowland forests from eastern Colombia and Venezuela through Amazonia to Bolivia and Brazil. Nectarivore of forest canopy. Named for its graceful flight.
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.