Green-headed Hillstar vs Allen's Hummingbird
Oreotrochilus stolzmanni compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green-headed Hillstar | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oreotrochilus stolzmanni | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.5 cm (5.7 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 8.016666666666667 g (0.28 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Peruvian high puna; visits Chuquiraga and Lupinus blooms. Supplements with small flies and … | 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
Green-headed Hillstar
Soft, pure descending whistle; gentle single note curving downward smoothly, warm and musical in quiet forest.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Green-headed Hillstar
Found on the western Andean slope and coastal desert hills of Peru at 1,500–3,600 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
Green-headed Hillstar
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Green-headed Hillstar
Purple-collared Woodstar: males with elongated streamer tail; glittering violet gorget; white collar; females shorter tail; green above
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Green-headed Hillstar
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in the Andes of Peru and Ecuador at 2,800-4,200 m. Green plumage with a glittering green hood. Nectarivore of high-altitude shrubs and Puya plants. Closely related to Andean Hillstar. Sometimes considered conspecific.
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.