Allen's Hummingbird vs Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Allen's Hummingbird

Selasphorus sasin

Tiny3 gShrubland

Allen's hummingbird is a small bird, with mature adults reaching only 3 to 3.5 in (76 to 89 mm) in length and weighing approximately 2 to 4 grams in weight. They are known for their vibrant colors and energetic behaviors, making them a popular subject for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. The male has a green back and forehead, with rust-colored (rufous) flanks, rump, and tail. The male's throat is an iridescent orange-red. The male hummingbirds make use of their elaborate colors to impress the females, which is crucial for mating season.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Anthony Batista · CC BY 4.0

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Selasphorus platycercus

Tiny4 gForest

Medium in size, the broad-tailed hummingbird is 4 inches (10 cm) in length and possesses an overall wingspan of 5.25 inches (13.3 cm). Weighing around 3.6 grams (0.13 oz), the female tends to be slightly larger than the male. Adults of both sexes show an iridescent green back, white eye ring and a rounded black tail projecting beyond their wing tips, from which their name was inspired. This species shows sexual dimorphism, which means that male and female have different characteristics. The male possesses a characteristic bright rose-red gorget. Voice: The broad-tailed hummingbird produces several different sound patterns. This bird's call sounds like a sharp "cheet", which is repeated "cheet cheet cheet cheet...". Hummingbird wing beats have also been found to be a communication signal. These birds produce two different types of sound using their wing beat. The first one is a "wing hum" and is simply produced when the hummingbird flies.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Lillie · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Allen's Hummingbird and Broad-tailed Hummingbird.