Cinnamon-throated Hermit vs Allen's Hummingbird
Phaethornis nattereri compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cinnamon-throated Hermit | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phaethornis nattereri | 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 | 2.8 g (0.10 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore following trap-lining routes through Heliconia and Costus flowers. Catches small arthropods for protein. | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Cinnamon-throated Hermit
Pure, sustained whistle with bell-like clarity; single note held steadily then gently fading, given from tall forest perch.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Cinnamon-throated Hermit
Endemic to the cerrado and caatinga transition zones of central and northeastern Brazil. Found at 200–800 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
Cinnamon-throated Hermit
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Cinnamon-throated Hermit
White-tipped Sicklebill: rufous underparts with white streaking; dark olive-brown above; white lateral crown stripe; pronounced 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
Cinnamon-throated Hermit
A small hermit hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in dry scrubland and gallery forests of central Brazil and eastern Bolivia. Cinnamon-orange throat, green upperparts, and rufous underparts. Nectarivore adapted to cerrado and transition forest habitats.
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.