Allen's Hummingbird vs Rufous-vented Whitetip
Selasphorus sasin compared with Urosticte ruficrissa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Allen's Hummingbird | Rufous-vented Whitetip |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Selasphorus sasin | Urosticte ruficrissa |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) | 11.4 cm (4.5 in) |
| Weight | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) | 4.15 g (0.15 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … | Nectarivore of Ecuadorian and Peruvian montane forest; forages at Ericaceae and Fuchsia. Takes 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.
Rufous-vented Whitetip
Pure, bell-like tones in descending sequence; clear musical notes stepping down smoothly with long resonant quality.
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-vented Whitetip
Found on the eastern Andean slope of Ecuador in cloud forest and forest edges. 800–1,800 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Allen's Hummingbird
Rufous-vented Whitetip
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-vented Whitetip
Glittering Starfrontlet: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted below
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-vented Whitetip
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Peru at 1,500-2,500 m. Green plumage with rufous vent and white-tipped tail. Nectarivore of montane forest. Closely related to Purple-bibbed Whitetip. Uncommon.