Allen's Hummingbird vs Green-backed Firecrown

Selasphorus sasin compared with Sephanoides sephaniodes

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Allen's Hummingbird Green-backed Firecrown
Scientific Name Selasphorus sasin Sephanoides sephaniodes
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 8.1 cm (3.2 in) 12.0 cm (4.7 in)
Weight 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) 6.583333333333333 g (0.23 oz)
Diet Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … Nectarivore foraging at diverse temperate-zone flowers in Chile and Argentina, including Fuchsia and Embothrium. Takes …
Clutch Size 2 1-2
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Allen's Hummingbird only

None

Green-backed Firecrown only

Song & Call Comparison

Allen's Hummingbird

Song

Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.

Green-backed Firecrown

Song

Crisp, whistled descending phrase; clean notes stepping down smoothly with precision and musical elegance at dawn.

Geographic Range & Migration

Allen's Hummingbird

Breeds along the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern California. Partial migrant; some Channel Islands populations resident year-round.

Green-backed Firecrown

Found along the length of Chile and western Argentina in temperate forest and scrub. Sea level to 2,000 m. Migratory.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Allen's Hummingbird

Least Concern

Green-backed Firecrown

About These Birds

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.

Green-backed Firecrown

A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in temperate forests of southern South America from central Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego. Green plumage with coppery-green crown. The southernmost hummingbird species, tolerating sub-zero temperatures. Nectarivore of native Fuchsia and Embothrium.

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