Little Hermit vs Allen's Hummingbird
Phaethornis longuemareus compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Little Hermit | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phaethornis longuemareus | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.6 cm (3.4 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.3 g (0.12 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily nectar-feeding; uses exceptionally curved bill to access heliconia blossoms; supplements with small insects. | 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
Little Hermit
Loud, ringing whistle with bold projection; clear single-pitch call carrying impressively across open montane grassland.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Little Hermit
Found from Trinidad and northern Venezuela west through much of Amazonia to Bolivia. Resident in lowland forest undergrowth near streams.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Little Hermit
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Little Hermit
Tiny; bronze-green upperparts with rufous-buff rump band; buff underparts; pale buff supercilium and malar stripe bordering dark face mask; white-tipped elongated central tail feathers; Trinidad and Venezuela species.
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Little Hermit
A tiny hermit hummingbird (8-9 cm), one of the smallest hummingbirds. Found in humid forests from Mexico to Brazil and Trinidad. Green upperparts with rufous-buff underparts and a curved bill. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth, visiting small flowers along forest streams and trails.
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.