Grey-chinned Hermit vs Allen's Hummingbird
Phaethornis griseogularis compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Grey-chinned Hermit | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phaethornis griseogularis | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 6.9 cm (2.7 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 2.4166666666666665 g (0.09 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore visiting Heliconia, Costus, and banana flowers along forest understory routes. Takes small insects opportunistically. | 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
Grey-chinned Hermit
Sharp, high chip followed by buzzy rattling trill; two-part call with emphatic onset and rough, cascading continuation.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Grey-chinned Hermit
Found along the Andes foothills and adjacent lowlands in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru at 300–1,800 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
Grey-chinned Hermit
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Grey-chinned Hermit
Sooty Barbthroat: dark brownish-gray overall; pale buff supercilium; rufous-washed underparts; white-tipped tail feathers; decurved bill
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Grey-chinned Hermit
A small hermit hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in Andean foothill forests from Colombia to Peru at 500-2,000 m elevation. Grey chin, green plumage, and rufous underparts. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth. Taxonomy complex, with several subspecies sometimes treated as separate species.
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.