Allen's Hummingbird vs Purple-crowned Plovercrest
Selasphorus sasin compared with Stephanoxis loddigesii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Allen's Hummingbird | Purple-crowned Plovercrest |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Selasphorus sasin | Stephanoxis loddigesii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) | 9.5 cm (3.7 in) |
| Weight | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) | 3.2 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … | Hovering nectarivore of lowland and montane forest, probing Heliconia and garden flowers. Supplements with insects … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Allen's Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well across broad coastal mangroves.
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
High, insect-like buzz sustained steadily; thin monotone with rapid modulation barely distinguishable from background insects.
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.
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
Found in southeastern Brazil. Resident in Atlantic Forest edges and secondary growth. An Atlantic Forest near-endemic.
Conservation Status
Allen's Hummingbird
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
How to Tell Them Apart
Allen's Hummingbird
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (alt): males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; females duller; pale buff below
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
Fischer's Turaco: brilliant metallic green body; crimson crest; white facial streak; green orbital ring; crimson flight feathers
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.
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in southeastern Brazil. Males have a purple-violet crest. Nectarivore of Atlantic Forest edges and secondary growth. Recently split from Green-crowned Plovercrest. An Atlantic Forest near-endemic.