Green-tailed Trainbearer vs Allen's Hummingbird
Lesbia nuna compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green-tailed Trainbearer | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lesbia nuna | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 10.3 cm (4.1 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.733333333333333 g (0.13 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of montane hedgerows and scrub; forages at diverse shrub flowers. Catches small insects in … | 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
Green-tailed Trainbearer
Melodic, rolling phrase with liquid quality; warm bubbly notes tumbling loosely in pleasant continuous musical sequence.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Green-tailed Trainbearer
Widespread in open Andean habitats from Colombia south through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,500–4,000 m elevation.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Green-tailed Trainbearer
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Green-tailed Trainbearer
Chiribiqute Emerald: tiny; males with iridescent violet gorget; metallic bronze-green above; white underparts; females green with spots
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Green-tailed Trainbearer
A medium-sized hummingbird (10 cm body + tail in males) found in Andean highlands from Venezuela to Peru at 2,000-3,800 m. Males have long green tail streamers, shorter than Black-tailed Trainbearer. Nectarivore of scrubby hillsides, gardens, and cloud forest edges.
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.