Allen's Hummingbird vs Violet-chested Hummingbird
Selasphorus sasin compared with Sternoclyta cyanopectus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Allen's Hummingbird | Violet-chested Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Selasphorus sasin | Sternoclyta cyanopectus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) | 14.0 cm (5.5 in) |
| Weight | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) | 7.816666666666667 g (0.28 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … | Nectarivore of Venezuelan cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and large epiphyte flowers. Supplements with 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.
Violet-chested Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged buzzing sound carrying well across Andean scrub habitat at low frequency.
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.
Violet-chested Hummingbird
Found in humid montane forest of the coastal Cordillera and tepuis of Venezuela at 1,000–2,200 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Allen's Hummingbird
Violet-chested Hummingbird
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
Violet-chested Hummingbird
White-bellied Woodstar (alt): males with glittering purple gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; 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.
Violet-chested Hummingbird
A large hummingbird (12-13 cm) endemic to the coastal mountains of northern Venezuela at 900-2,500 m. Males have a striking violet-blue breast. Nectarivore of montane forest and coffee plantations. A range-restricted Venezuelan endemic.