Purple-throated Mountain-gem vs Allen's Hummingbird
Lampornis calolaemus compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Mountain-gem | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis calolaemus | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.5 cm (4.9 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.625 g (0.20 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Costa Rican highlands; visits Ericaceae and Fuchsia blooms. Catches small insects near flowering … | 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-throated Mountain-gem
Melodic, rolling phrase with rich warm timbre; bubbly musical notes tumbling pleasantly in relaxed sequence.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Purple-throated Mountain-gem
Found in highland forest from Costa Rica and Nicaragua to Guatemala and Honduras. 600–2,400 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-throated Mountain-gem
Allen's Hummingbird
About These Birds
Purple-throated Mountain-gem
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in cloud forests of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and western Panama at 800-2,000 m. Males have a brilliant purple throat. Nectarivore of cloud forest and forest edges. Common at highland feeders in Costa Rica.
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.