Purple-collared Woodstar vs Allen's Hummingbird
Myrtis fanny compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-collared Woodstar | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Myrtis fanny | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 7.9 cm (3.1 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 2.4 g (0.08 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Andean foothills and inter-valley scrub; visits small tubular flowers. Supplements with tiny arthropods. | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Purple-collared Woodstar only
Allen's Hummingbird only
Song & Call Comparison
Purple-collared Woodstar
Harsh, grating buzz with mechanical quality; abrupt dry trill issued suddenly then stopping in sharp silence.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Purple-collared Woodstar
Found in open habitats, gardens, and scrub from southern Ecuador south through Peru to northwestern Chile. Sea level to 3,000 m.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Purple-collared Woodstar
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Purple-collared Woodstar
White-tailed Sabrewing: males iridescent blue gorget; metallic green; white outer tail; females green above; spotted white below
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Purple-collared Woodstar
A tiny hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in arid western Peru and southwestern Ecuador at sea level to 2,500 m. Males have a purple collar. Nectarivore of desert scrub, gardens, and river valleys. Adapted to extremely arid coastal environments.
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.