Allen's Hummingbird or Calliope Hummingbird?
Here's how to tell the difference
Allen's Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird
Selasphorus sasin
General appearance
The Allen's hummingbird is a small species, measuring between 3-3 1/2" (8-9 cm), roughly the size of a Sparrow. The bird displays a variety of colors including black, green, orange, red, and white. Its physical features consist of a multi-pointed, rounded, and wedge-shaped tail, with narrow, rounded and short wings.
Male vs female
Mature males have coloration similar to a Rufous Hummingbird, with the notable distinction of a green back. However, Rufous Hummingbirds can also display green backs making identifying Allen's challenging outside of their typical range. The females and young of the species are completely identical to their Rufous counterparts.
Juvenile
The juvenile Allen's hummingbirds inherit the identical appearance of the female and are similar to Rufous younglings, so identifying them can potentially be difficult. Instead, their range of habitat can provide a decent clue towards proper identification.
Size
3.0 - 3.5 in/0.1 oz
There's more to learn about Allen's Hummingbird
View full detailsCalliope Hummingbird
Selasphorus calliope
General appearance
The Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest hummingbird at a size of 2 3/4-3 1/4 inches or 7-8 cm, comparable to a Sparrow. It features a short, rounded tail with a square tip. The wings are narrow and rounded. Colorations include green, orange, purple, and red.
Male vs female
The adult male Calliope Hummingbird displays distinctive magenta stripes on its throat and pale green on its sides. Females, as well as younger birds, are smaller than female Rufous Hummingbirds, and have a shorter bill. They also show a pale buff wash across their chest. Females possess very little rusty color at the base of their tail, differentiating them from the males.
Juvenile
Juvenile Calliope Hummingbirds are similar to females in size, with a shorter bill. They also share the characteristic of a pale buff wash clearly seen across their chest. Differences may emerge with seasonal variations, which influence their appearance.
Size
3.1 - 3.5 in/0.1 oz
There's more to learn about Calliope Hummingbird
View full detailsHow to tell the Allen's Hummingbird from the Calliope Hummingbird
Visual differences
Allen's Hummingbird (3-3.5 inches) displays a green back with multicolored plumage, having a multi-pointed, rounded tail. In contrast, the Calliope Hummingbird (2.75-3.25 inches), smaller, features striking magenta stripes on the male's throat, a squared tail tip, and a pale buff chest wash. Both have narrow, rounded wings, but the Calliope's bill is notably shorter. Females differ in rusty tints at the tail base, more pronounced in Allen’s. These size and color traits help differentiate them.
Key differences and behavior
Allen's Hummingbird and Calliope Hummingbird exhibit distinct behaviors and habitats. Allen's is notably aggressive and remembers flower locations, thriving in semi-open areas like parks and gardens, while Calliope is more adapted to high mountain habitats and open forests. Both species migrate to Mexico, but Calliope travels over 5,000 miles, including through pine-oak forests. Allen's males perform a J-shaped courtship display, whereas Calliope males execute U-shaped dives. Allen's nests low in shrubs or trees, while Calliope prefers higher sites among conifers. Dietarily similar, both rely on nectar and insects, but Allen's specifically favors red tubular flowers, while both visit feeders for sugar-water.
Still not sure? Here are more lookalikes!
Allen's Hummingbird vs Rufous Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird vs Broad-Tailed Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird vs Rufous Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird vs Broad-Tailed Hummingbird
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