Purple-crowned Fairy vs Allen's Hummingbird
Heliothryx barroti compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-crowned Fairy | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliothryx barroti | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.8 cm (5.0 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.48 g (0.19 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore specializing in high canopy flowers and bromeliads. Pierces flower bases to rob nectar; supplements … | 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
Purple-crowned Fairy
Buzzy, insect-like trill sustained monotonously; continuous high-frequency vibration with little dynamic range throughout.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Purple-crowned Fairy
Found in lowland humid forest from southern Mexico through Central America to western Ecuador and western Colombia. 0–800 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
Purple-crowned Fairy
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Purple-crowned Fairy
White-tailed Goldenthroat: males with glittering golden-green gorget; metallic green above; white-tipped tail; females green 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
Purple-crowned Fairy
A slender, elegant hummingbird (11-13 cm) with a long, deeply forked tail. Green upperparts, purple crown, and immaculate white underparts. Found in humid forests from southern Mexico to western Ecuador. Nectarivore of forest canopy. Named fairy for its delicate, floating 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.