Allen's Hummingbird
Facts
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Location: South of United States to North of Mexico
Lifespan: 3 to 4 years
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Location: South of United States to North of Mexico
Lifespan: 3 to 4 years
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Trochiliformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Selasphorus
Species: S. sasin
Binomial name: Selasphorus sasin
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Trochiliformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Selasphorus
Species: S. sasin
Binomial name: Selasphorus sasin
Description
Length: 3 to 3.5 in (7.5 to 9 cm)
Wingspan: About 11 cm (4.3 in)
Weight: About 2 to 4 g (0.1 to 0.2 oz)
Other: The male Allen's has a green back and forehead, with rust-colored rufous flanks, rump, and tail. The male's throat is also an iridescent orange-red. The female and immature Allen's Hummingbirds are similarly colored, but lack the iridescent throat patch, instead having a series of speckles on their throat. Females are mostly green, featuring rufous colors only on the tail, which also has white tips. The immature Allen's Hummingbirds are so similar to the female Rufous Hummingbird that the two are almost indistinguishable in the field.
Length: 3 to 3.5 in (7.5 to 9 cm)
Wingspan: About 11 cm (4.3 in)
Weight: About 2 to 4 g (0.1 to 0.2 oz)
Other: The male Allen's has a green back and forehead, with rust-colored rufous flanks, rump, and tail. The male's throat is also an iridescent orange-red. The female and immature Allen's Hummingbirds are similarly colored, but lack the iridescent throat patch, instead having a series of speckles on their throat. Females are mostly green, featuring rufous colors only on the tail, which also has white tips. The immature Allen's Hummingbirds are so similar to the female Rufous Hummingbird that the two are almost indistinguishable in the field.
Behaviour
The courtship flight of the male Allen's Hummingbird is a frantic back and forth flight arc of about 25 feet (10 m) similar to the motion of a swinging pendulum, followed by a high-speed dive from about 100 feet (30 m). The male is also highly aggressive and territorial. Hot-tempered despite its diminutive stature, a male Allen's Hummingbird will chase any other males from its territory, as well as any other hummingbird species, and they have even been known to attack and rout predatory birds several times larger than themselves such as kestrels and hawks.
The courtship flight of the male Allen's Hummingbird is a frantic back and forth flight arc of about 25 feet (10 m) similar to the motion of a swinging pendulum, followed by a high-speed dive from about 100 feet (30 m). The male is also highly aggressive and territorial. Hot-tempered despite its diminutive stature, a male Allen's Hummingbird will chase any other males from its territory, as well as any other hummingbird species, and they have even been known to attack and rout predatory birds several times larger than themselves such as kestrels and hawks.
Predators or Prey?
The Allen's Hummingbird's predators are the Praying Mantis and cats. Also, other birds such as Hawks and other raptors are predators of the Allen's Hummingbird. More unusual predators can also capture hummingbirds, such as spiders and frogs.
The Allen's Hummingbird's predators are the Praying Mantis and cats. Also, other birds such as Hawks and other raptors are predators of the Allen's Hummingbird. More unusual predators can also capture hummingbirds, such as spiders and frogs.
Diet
Like all hummingbirds, the Allen's Hummingbird's high rate of metabolism requires it to feed frequently, about every hour. The Allen's Hummingbird drinks nectar from flowers, as well as eating any small insects it finds crawling around the flower blossom, which provide it with needed protein.
Like all hummingbirds, the Allen's Hummingbird's high rate of metabolism requires it to feed frequently, about every hour. The Allen's Hummingbird drinks nectar from flowers, as well as eating any small insects it finds crawling around the flower blossom, which provide it with needed protein.
Habitat
The Allen's Hummingbird is common only in the brushy woods, gardens, and meadows of coastal California from Santa Barbara north, and a minuscule portion of lower Oregon. The nominate race of Allen's Hummingbird S.s. sasin is migratory, and winters along the Pacific coast of central Mexico. A second race S.s. sedentarius is a permanent resident on the Channel Islands off southern California. This population colonized the Palos Verdes Peninsula of Los Angeles County in the 1960s and has since spread over much of Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
The Allen's Hummingbird is common only in the brushy woods, gardens, and meadows of coastal California from Santa Barbara north, and a minuscule portion of lower Oregon. The nominate race of Allen's Hummingbird S.s. sasin is migratory, and winters along the Pacific coast of central Mexico. A second race S.s. sedentarius is a permanent resident on the Channel Islands off southern California. This population colonized the Palos Verdes Peninsula of Los Angeles County in the 1960s and has since spread over much of Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
Conservation
The Conservation Status is of Least Concern. This is why the Allen's Hummingbird is not seen in zoos or captivity.
The Conservation Status is of Least Concern. This is why the Allen's Hummingbird is not seen in zoos or captivity.
Reproduction
The Allen's Hummingbird constructs its nest out of plant fibers, down, and weed stems, coating the nest with lichens to give it structure. The nest is placed above ground on a tree branch or the stalk or stem of a plant. The female lays two white eggs, which she will incubate for 15 to 17 days. The young will leave the nest about three weeks after hatching. The mother will continue to feed the fledglings for several more weeks, then the young are left to fend for themselves.
The Allen's Hummingbird constructs its nest out of plant fibers, down, and weed stems, coating the nest with lichens to give it structure. The nest is placed above ground on a tree branch or the stalk or stem of a plant. The female lays two white eggs, which she will incubate for 15 to 17 days. The young will leave the nest about three weeks after hatching. The mother will continue to feed the fledglings for several more weeks, then the young are left to fend for themselves.
