Allen's Hummingbird vs Grey-bellied Comet
Selasphorus sasin compared with Taphrolesbia griseiventris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Allen's Hummingbird | Grey-bellied Comet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Selasphorus sasin | Taphrolesbia griseiventris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) | 15.6 cm (6.1 in) |
| Weight | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) | 8.94 g (0.32 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … | Nectarivore of Peruvian dry inter-Andean valleys; visits sparse Chuquiraga blooms. Supplements with small 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.
Grey-bellied Comet
Crisp, musical chip with bright quality; single sharp note ringing cleanly, repeated at irregular but frequent intervals.
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.
Grey-bellied Comet
Endemic to the western Andean slope in Peru in arid scrub and intermontane valleys. 2,400–3,800 m. Highly restricted range.
Conservation Status
Allen's Hummingbird
Grey-bellied Comet
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
Grey-bellied Comet
White-bellied Woodstar: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white postocular stripe; females green above; spots
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.
Grey-bellied Comet
A medium-sized hummingbird (15-18 cm including long tail) endemic to a small range in the Andes of Peru at 3,000-3,500 m. Grey belly and long, forked tail. Nectarivore. Classified as Endangered due to an extremely restricted range. One of the rarest Andean hummingbirds.