Blue-throated Hillstar vs Allen's Hummingbird
Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blue-throated Hillstar | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 7.6 g (0.27 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore adapted to very high elevations; forages at Chuquiraga, Gentianella, and Puya flowers. Gleans arthropods. | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Blue-throated Hillstar
Buzzy, sustained trill with monotonous quality; continuous low-pitched vibration with little variation across prolonged delivery.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Blue-throated Hillstar
Endemic to the Cordillera de Chilla region of extreme southwestern Ecuador in high páramo. 3,200–4,200 m. Endangered.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Blue-throated Hillstar
Allen's Hummingbird
About These Birds
Blue-throated Hillstar
A recently discovered hummingbird (11 cm) from the southwestern Andes of Ecuador at 3,300-3,900 m. Males have an iridescent blue throat. Described in 2018. Known from a single ridgeline. Critically Endangered with a range estimated at less than 100 km2.
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.