Scissor-tailed Hummingbird vs Allen's Hummingbird
Hylonympha macrocerca compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Scissor-tailed Hummingbird | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hylonympha macrocerca | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.3 cm (5.2 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 7.25 g (0.26 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Venezuelan cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and diverse forest flowers. Catches small insects near … | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note repeated rapidly; clean staccato delivery with rising intensity during territorial display.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to the Paria Peninsula of northeastern Venezuela in cloud forest at 700–1,200 m. Critically endangered.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird
About These Birds
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm plus elongated tail in males, total 18-20 cm) endemic to the Paria Peninsula of northeastern Venezuela. Males have deeply forked, scissor-like tail streamers. Nectarivore of humid montane forest. Classified as Endangered.
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.