Green-tailed Goldenthroat vs Allen's Hummingbird
Polytmus theresiae compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green-tailed Goldenthroat | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polytmus theresiae | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.3 cm (4.4 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.575 g (0.13 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of open wetland margins and savanna; forages at diverse flower types. Takes tiny flies … | 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
Green-tailed Goldenthroat
Rough, grating buzz with coarse texture; sustained low-pitched trill with vibrating quality audible over some distance.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Green-tailed Goldenthroat
Found in open savanna and forest edges of the Guianas and Amazonian Venezuela and Brazil. Sea level to 600 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
Green-tailed Goldenthroat
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Green-tailed Goldenthroat
White-chinned Sapphire: males with glittering violet gorget and white chin; metallic green above; females with spotted white throat
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Green-tailed Goldenthroat
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in humid lowland forests and edges from the Guianas through Amazonia to Bolivia and Brazil. Green plumage with a golden-green throat and greenish tail. Nectarivore of forest edges and clearings.
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.