Allen's Hummingbird vs Rufous-gaped Hillstar
Selasphorus sasin compared with Urochroa bougueri
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Allen's Hummingbird | Rufous-gaped Hillstar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Selasphorus sasin | Urochroa bougueri |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) | 15.7 cm (6.2 in) |
| Weight | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) | 11.35 g (0.40 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … | Nectarivore of Colombian and Ecuadorian montane forest; visits Ericaceae and Fuchsia blooms. Catches small arthropods. |
| 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.
Rufous-gaped Hillstar
Thin, crystalline twittering with airy quality; light rapid notes cascading softly in animated aerial display.
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.
Rufous-gaped Hillstar
Found on the Pacific slope and western Andean ridge from Colombia south to Ecuador at 1,200–2,800 m.
Conservation Status
Allen's Hummingbird
Rufous-gaped Hillstar
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
Rufous-gaped Hillstar
White-tipped Sicklebill (alt): males with ruby-red gorget; metallic green; white-tipped outer tail feathers; 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.
Rufous-gaped Hillstar
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) found in cloud forests of western Colombia and Ecuador at 1,000-2,200 m. Green plumage with rufous vent and long, deeply notched tail. Nectarivore of Chocó cloud forest. Named hillstar despite being a lowland-montane species.