Great-billed Hermit vs Allen's Hummingbird
Phaethornis malaris compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great-billed Hermit | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phaethornis malaris | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.8 cm (4.6 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 6.4799999999999995 g (0.23 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore trap-lining Heliconia patches in humid lowland forest. Supplements with arthropods for breeding protein demands. | 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
Great-billed Hermit
Melodic, two-note whistle repeated persistently; first note pure and high, second slightly lower, given every few seconds.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Great-billed Hermit
Widespread in Amazonian lowlands from Colombia and the Guianas south through Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 0–800 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
Great-billed Hermit
Allen's Hummingbird
About These Birds
Great-billed Hermit
A large hermit hummingbird (15-17 cm), the largest in the genus, found in lowland Amazonian forests from Colombia to Brazil and Bolivia. Green plumage with a massive curved bill and long tail. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth, visiting large Heliconia flowers.
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.