Fire-throated Metaltail vs Allen's Hummingbird
Metallura eupogon compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Fire-throated Metaltail | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Metallura eupogon | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.9 cm (4.7 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 4.8 g (0.17 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Peruvian high-altitude shrublands; visits Ericaceae and Valeriana flowers. Catches small insects near blooms. | 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
Fire-throated Metaltail
Soft, pure whistle with plaintive character; gentle sustained tone with slight wavering, given at dawn from cover.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Fire-throated Metaltail
Endemic to Peru in cloud forests and high shrub of the Cordillera Central at 2,800–4,400 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
Fire-throated Metaltail
Allen's Hummingbird
About These Birds
Fire-throated Metaltail
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the Andes of central and southern Peru at 3,000-4,200 m. Males have a glittering fiery-red throat. Nectarivore of puna scrub and cloud forest edges. A Peruvian endemic found in Polylepis woodland and high-altitude shrubs.
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.