Purple-chested Hummingbird vs Allen's Hummingbird
Polyerata rosenbergi compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-chested Hummingbird | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polyerata rosenbergi | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.8 g (0.13 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | 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
Purple-chested Hummingbird
Soft, pure whistle with warm timbre; gentle sustained note barely wavering, given quietly from forest perch.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Purple-chested Hummingbird
Found in humid Pacific lowland forests from eastern Panama to western Ecuador. Resident in Chocó forest.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Purple-chested Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Purple-chested Hummingbird
Sumatran Ground-cuckoo: dark glossy green above; rufous-buff below; blue facial skin; long tail; massive bill; Sumatra endemic
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Purple-chested Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in humid Pacific lowland forests from eastern Panama to western Ecuador. Males have a rich purple breast patch. Nectarivore of Chocó forest edges. Named after the German zoologist William Rosenberg.
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.