Slender-tailed Woodstar vs Allen's Hummingbird
Microstilbon burmeisteri compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Slender-tailed Woodstar | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Microstilbon burmeisteri | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 6.0 cm (2.4 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 2.09 g (0.07 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of montane scrub, probing small tubular flowers. Catches spiders and minute flies to supply … | 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
Slender-tailed Woodstar
Soft, liquid descending cascade; gentle mellow notes flowing downward in quiet musical sequence at dawn.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Slender-tailed Woodstar
Found in arid scrub and woodland of central Bolivia and northwestern Argentina at 1,000-3,000 m. Resident and partial migrant.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Slender-tailed Woodstar
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Slender-tailed Woodstar
Lucifer Sheartail: males with iridescent purple forked gorget extending to sides; metallic green above; females green above; spotted
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Slender-tailed Woodstar
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) found in arid scrub and woodland of central Bolivia and northwestern Argentina at 1,000-3,000 m. Males have a slender, forked tail. Nectarivore of dry forest and garden flowers. Named after the German zoologist Hermann Burmeister.
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.