Allen's Hummingbird vs Band-tailed Barbthroat
Selasphorus sasin compared with Threnetes ruckeri
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Allen's Hummingbird | Band-tailed Barbthroat |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Selasphorus sasin | Threnetes ruckeri |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) | 11.3 cm (4.4 in) |
| Weight | 3.1500000000000004 g (0.11 oz) | 6.0 g (0.21 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from coastal sage scrub and forest flowers in California. Supplements diet with … | Nectarivore specialising in long curved tubular flowers; also hawks small flies and midges near forest … |
| 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.
Band-tailed Barbthroat
Crisp, emphatic single chip repeated at intervals; clear staccato note with sharp attack and brief resonant tail.
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.
Band-tailed Barbthroat
Found from southern Mexico through Central America to western Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. Resident in lowland forest and shaded streams.
Conservation Status
Allen's Hummingbird
Band-tailed Barbthroat
How to Tell Them Apart
Allen's Hummingbird
Band-tailed Barbthroat
Bronze-green upperparts; pale buff underparts with dark throat; broad black-and-white banded tail with rufous base; blackish chin and throat with pale malar stripe; Central American species with boldly banded tail …
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.
Band-tailed Barbthroat
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-12 cm) with a decurved bill, found in humid lowland forests from Guatemala to northwestern Colombia. Green plumage with a pale breast band. Named for the barb-like feathers on its throat. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth, visiting Heliconia flowers.