Sooty-capped Hermit vs Allen's Hummingbird
Phaethornis augusti compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sooty-capped Hermit | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phaethornis augusti | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.4 cm (4.5 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 4.916666666666667 g (0.17 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore specializing in Heliconia and other curved tubular flowers. Supplements diet with small spiders 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
Sooty-capped Hermit
Rough, scratchy chatter with coarse texture; series of dry notes scraping together in loose rhythm near nest site.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Sooty-capped Hermit
Found in arid scrub and forest edges of northern Venezuela and adjacent Colombia, including Margarita Island. Sea level to 1,200 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
Sooty-capped Hermit
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Sooty-capped Hermit
Great-billed Hermit: tawny underparts; greenish-olive crown; dark mask; white supercilium; massive decurved reddish-based bill; long tail
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Sooty-capped Hermit
A medium-sized hermit hummingbird (12-14 cm) found in montane forests from Venezuela to Peru at 800-2,400 m elevation. Dark sooty cap contrasting with green body and rufous rump. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth and edges. Known for its deep, resonant song.
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.