Vervain Hummingbird vs Allen's Hummingbird
Mellisuga minima compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Vervain Hummingbird | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mellisuga minima | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 7.3 cm (2.9 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 2.174 g (0.08 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on floral nectar in forest edges and gardens of Jamaica and Hispaniola. Supplements with … | 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
Vervain Hummingbird
Harsh, nasal chatter with emphatic rhythm; rough buzzy notes delivered rapidly with coarse texture from perch.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Vervain Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica and Hispaniola in the Caribbean. Resident in gardens, forest edges, and lowland to montane habitats.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Vervain Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird
About These Birds
Vervain Hummingbird
The second smallest bird in the world (6 cm, 2-2.4 g). Endemic to Jamaica and Hispaniola. Tiny green plumage with a short bill. Nectarivore of garden flowers and forest edges. Named vervain for its preference for Stachytarpheta (vervain) flowers. Weighs less than a penny.
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.