Koepcke's Hermit vs Allen's Hummingbird
Phaethornis koepckeae compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Koepcke's Hermit | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phaethornis koepckeae | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.1 cm (4.8 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 4.95 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
Koepcke's Hermit
Deep, hollow churr with resonant quality; prolonged buzzing trill carrying well through dense forest at low frequency.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Koepcke's Hermit
Endemic to Peru in the Ucayali and Madre de Dios drainages. Found in lowland and foothill forest at 200–700 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
Koepcke's Hermit
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Koepcke's Hermit
Little Hermit: glittering green crown; pale buff underparts; white pectoral tufts; white postocular stripe; tiny size; 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
Koepcke's Hermit
A medium-sized hermit hummingbird (13-14 cm) endemic to the eastern slopes of the Peruvian Andes at 800-1,500 m. Green plumage with rufous underparts. Named after Maria Koepcke, a German-Peruvian ornithologist. Classified as Near Threatened due to limited 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.