Blue-bearded Helmetcrest vs Allen's Hummingbird

Oxypogon cyanolaemus compared with Selasphorus sasin

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Blue-bearded Helmetcrest Allen's Hummingbird
Scientific Name Oxypogon cyanolaemus Selasphorus sasin
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Endangered Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 14.0 cm (5.5 in) 8.1 cm (3.2 in)
Weight 4.8 g (0.17 oz) 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz)
Diet Nectarivore of Venezuelan páramo; forages at Espeletia and Ericaceae blooms in cold conditions. Catches small … Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with …
Clutch Size -- 2
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Blue-bearded Helmetcrest only

Allen's Hummingbird only

Song & Call Comparison

Blue-bearded Helmetcrest

Song

Rapid, mechanical clicking in even rhythm; dry staccato notes forming continuous even sequence typical of swift.

Allen's Hummingbird

Song

Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.

Geographic Range & Migration

Blue-bearded Helmetcrest

Endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, in high páramo at 3,000–4,600 m. Critically 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

Endangered

Blue-bearded Helmetcrest

Least Concern

Allen's Hummingbird

About These Birds

Blue-bearded Helmetcrest

A small hummingbird (11-12 cm) endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, at 3,500-4,700 m. Males have a blue beard and erect crest. Critically Endangered due to extremely restricted páramo habitat on an isolated mountain range.

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.

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