Planalto Hermit vs Allen's Hummingbird
Phaethornis pretrei compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Planalto Hermit | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phaethornis pretrei | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.9 cm (4.7 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.0200000000000005 g (0.18 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 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Planalto Hermit
Melodic, rising whistle with hopeful quality; smooth ascending note curving upward then briefly hovering before fading.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Planalto Hermit
Endemic to eastern and central Brazil from Piauí and Goiás to Mato Grosso. Found in cerrado and dry forest at 300–800 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
Planalto Hermit
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Planalto Hermit
Long-tailed Hermit: rufous below; glossy green crown; broad white supercilium; elongated white-tipped central tail feathers; buff undertail
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Planalto Hermit
A medium-sized hermit hummingbird (13-15 cm) found in cerrado, gallery forests, and dry woodlands of central and eastern Brazil. Green upperparts, pale underparts, and rufous rump with long, white-tipped central tail feathers. Named after the French naturalist Auguste de Saint-Hilaire.
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.