Rufous-throated Hummingbird vs Allen's Hummingbird
Hylocharis sapphirina compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rufous-throated Hummingbird | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hylocharis sapphirina | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 4.239999999999999 g (0.15 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore visiting diverse flowering plants; supplements the high-sugar nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | 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
Rufous-throated Hummingbird
Sharp, piercing screech with urgent character; sudden loud rough call given during aerial territorial chase.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Rufous-throated Hummingbird
Found in humid lowland forests from Colombia through Amazonia to Bolivia and Brazil. Resident in forest edges.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Rufous-throated Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Rufous-throated Hummingbird
Violet Coucal: brilliant violet-blue iridescent body; rufous wings; dark graduated tail; red eye; violet iridescence distinctive
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Rufous-throated Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in humid lowland forests from Colombia through Amazonia to Bolivia and Brazil. Males have a rufous-red throat. Green plumage. Nectarivore of forest edges and river-edge habitats. Often confused with the similar Gilded Hummingbird.
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.