Scaly-breasted Sabrewing vs Allen's Hummingbird
Phaeochroa cuvierii compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Scaly-breasted Sabrewing | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phaeochroa cuvierii | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 8.959999999999999 g (0.32 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Visits flowering trees and epiphytes for nectar; supplements diet with small arthropods including gnats, midges, … | 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
Scaly-breasted Sabrewing
Sharp, emphatic chip note with bright projection; single clean staccato sound repeated persistently near territory.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Scaly-breasted Sabrewing
Found in humid forests from Guatemala to Colombia and Venezuela. Resident in lowland forest undergrowth and edges.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Scaly-breasted Sabrewing
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Scaly-breasted Sabrewing
Lesser Ground-cuckoo: rufous below; brown-barred above; blue orbital ring; long broad tail; blue eye ring; tropical ground dweller
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Scaly-breasted Sabrewing
A large hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in humid forests from Guatemala to Colombia and Venezuela. Green plumage with a scaly breast pattern. Large bill. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth and edges, visiting banana flowers. The only member of its genus.
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.