Blue-vented Hummingbird vs Allen's Hummingbird
Saucerottia hoffmanni compared with Selasphorus sasin
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blue-vented Hummingbird | Allen's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Saucerottia hoffmanni | Selasphorus sasin |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 4.85 g (0.17 oz) | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from Costa Rican lowland forest flowers and gardens. Supplements diet with small … | 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
Blue-vented Hummingbird
Harsh, nasal chatter with emphatic delivery; rough buzzy notes delivered rapidly with coarse texture.
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Geographic Range & Migration
Blue-vented Hummingbird
Found in dry to semi-humid habitats from Honduras to Costa Rica. Resident in gardens and forest edges.
Allen's Hummingbird
Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Blue-vented Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Blue-vented Hummingbird
Sunda Coucal: dark glossy brown above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long graduated dark tail; red eye; forest dweller
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
About These Birds
Blue-vented Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in dry to semi-humid habitats from Honduras to Costa Rica. Green plumage with blue vent. Nectarivore of gardens, scrub, and forest edges. Named after the German naturalist Karl Hoffmann. A Central American near-endemic.
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.