White-tailed Goldenthroat vs Allen's Hummingbird
Polytmus guainumbi compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-tailed Goldenthroat | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polytmus guainumbi | 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 | 4.7 g (0.17 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of grassland and savanna flowers, particularly Heliconia and grasses. Catches small insects near water … | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
White-tailed Goldenthroat only
Allen's Hummingbird only
Song & Call Comparison
White-tailed Goldenthroat
Sharp, crackling chatter with percussive quality; rapid dry notes delivered emphatically near territorial boundary.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-tailed Goldenthroat
Widespread in open habitats, savannas, and forest edges across Trinidad and Venezuela south through Brazil to Bolivia and Argentina. 0–900 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
White-tailed Goldenthroat
Allen's Hummingbird
About These Birds
White-tailed Goldenthroat
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) with golden-green throat and breast, found in open savannas and cerrado from Venezuela to Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina. Long, slightly curved bill. Nectarivore of open country flowers. Named for its glittering golden throat plumage.
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.