Coppery Metaltail vs Allen's Hummingbird
Metallura theresiae compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Coppery Metaltail | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Metallura theresiae | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.7 cm (4.6 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 4.925000000000001 g (0.17 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Peruvian cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and epiphytic orchids. Gleans tiny arthropods from … | 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
Coppery Metaltail
Deep, resonant trill with buzzing quality; powerful low-frequency churring vibrating through dense tropical vegetation.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Coppery Metaltail
Endemic to Peru in the Cordillera Negra region of the western Andes at 3,000–4,400 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
Coppery Metaltail
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Coppery Metaltail
Purple-throated Mountain-gem: tiny; males with brilliant blue-violet gorget; metallic green above; females green above; spotted below
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Coppery Metaltail
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to the Andes of central Peru at 2,500-3,800 m. Males have a coppery-bronze tail. Nectarivore of cloud forest and elfin forest edges. A Peruvian endemic. Named after the botanical collector Therese, Princess of Bavaria.
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.