Black-backed Thornbill vs Allen's Hummingbird
Ramphomicron dorsale compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-backed Thornbill | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ramphomicron dorsale | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.5 g (0.12 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of high montane scrub and páramo; short bill suits small compact flowers. Gleans tiny … | 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
Black-backed Thornbill
Soft, sibilant hissing trill; gentle continuous buzz with slight pulsing quality during slow hover near blossoms.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Black-backed Thornbill
Endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, in high-elevation scrub and páramo. 1,800–3,500 m. Found nowhere else.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Black-backed Thornbill
Allen's Hummingbird
About These Birds
Black-backed Thornbill
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) endemic to the Santa Marta Mountains of northern Colombia at 3,000-4,600 m. Dark back, tiny bill, and white underparts. Nectarivore of high-altitude páramo. Classified as Vulnerable due to restricted mountain-top habitat.
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.