Hummingbird Identification: How to Tell Rufous and Allen’s Hummingbirds Apart?

Hummingbirds, among the most captivating avian creatures, encompass a diverse array of species each adorned with its own distinctive characteristics.

In this realm of intricate variation, Rufous and Allen’s hummingbirds stand apart as intriguing subjects of study and observation. These two species, renowned for their vibrant hues, intricate behaviors, and migratory patterns, offer a captivating lens into the complexities of avian life.

From the subtle differences in their tail feathers to their vocalizations, habitats, and territorial tendencies, exploring the divergences between Rufous and Allen’s hummingbirds unveils a fascinating tapestry of nature’s creativity.

This exploration delves into the unique attributes that set these two species apart in the avian realm.

Key Differences Between Rufous and Allen’s Hummingbirds

Here are some of the key differences between Rufous and Allen’s Hummingbirds:

Tail Feather Shape

• Rufous Hummingbird: The Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) possesses a unique characteristic in its tail feathers. Specifically, the second tail feather from the center, known as R2, features a subtle yet noticeable notch at its upper tip.
  This distinct notch sets apart the Rufous hummingbird from other species, contributing to its identification even at a glance.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: On the other hand, Allen’s hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) exhibits a more generalized tail feather shape. Unlike the Rufous species, all tail feathers of Allen’s hummingbird are consistently narrower in comparison.
  This uniformity in tail feather width is a key feature that helps distinguish Allen’s hummingbird from its Rufous counterpart.

Size

• Rufous Hummingbird: The Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is slightly larger in size compared to its counterpart, Allen’s hummingbird.
  This size difference can be noticeable, particularly when observing these birds side by side. The Rufous hummingbird’s relatively larger stature contributes to its presence and visibility.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: In contrast, Allen’s hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) is slightly smaller in size when compared to the Rufous species. This smaller size is one of the factors that aid in distinguishing Allen’s hummingbird from other similar hummingbird species.

Coloration

• Rufous Hummingbird: The Rufous hummingbird displays distinctive coloration that includes bright orange-red tones on its back and throat. This vibrant coloration is a hallmark of the species and adds to the allure of this hummingbird.
  The iridescent sheen of orange and red creates a striking visual effect, especially when sunlight catches its feathers.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: Conversely, Allen’s hummingbird exhibits a different coloration pattern. Its back and throat are characterized by brilliant green hues.
  The vivid green color sets Allen’s hummingbird apart from the Rufous hummingbird and contributes to its unique visual identity.

Chest

• Rufous Hummingbird: The Rufous hummingbird showcases a distinctive chest pattern. It has a white chest with rufous-colored sides, creating a contrast between the center and the sides of its chest. This distinct chest pattern contributes to the Rufous hummingbird’s overall appearance.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: In contrast, Allen’s hummingbird features a different chest coloration. Its chest tends to be more greenish in tone, aligning with the overall green coloration on its body.
  The absence of the rufous side coloring further differentiates the chest appearance of Allen’s hummingbird from that of the Rufous species.

Range

• Rufous Hummingbird: The range of the Rufous hummingbird spans specific regions, primarily breeding in western North America.
  These hummingbirds are known to undertake long migratory routes, sometimes reaching as far north as Alaska during their migrations. This wide range is a distinctive trait of the Rufous species.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: In contrast, Allen’s hummingbird has a more limited range in terms of breeding areas. This species primarily breeds along the coastal regions of California. While it also migrates, its migratory routes are generally shorter and do not extend as far as those of the Rufous hummingbird.

Migration

• Rufous Hummingbird: The Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is known for its extensive migratory routes.
  During the breeding season, these hummingbirds can be found in western North America. However, when it’s time to migrate, they embark on long journeys, sometimes reaching as far north as Alaska.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: In contrast, Allen’s hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) undertakes shorter migratory routes. While also a migratory species, Allen’s hummingbirds have a more confined range, primarily staying in coastal California. Their migration tends to be less extensive compared to the Rufous hummingbird.

Habitat

• Rufous Hummingbird: Rufous hummingbirds exhibit versatility in their habitat preferences. They are known to inhabit a variety of environments, including gardens, forests, and mountainous regions. This adaptability to diverse habitats contributes to their widespread distribution.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: Allen’s hummingbirds have specific habitat preferences. They are often found in coastal scrub, gardens, and open woodlands. Their habitat choices are more limited compared to the Rufous species, focusing on specific types of environments.

Feeding Behavior

• Rufous Hummingbird: Rufous hummingbirds are known for their aggressive feeding behavior. They are territorial around feeders and often chase away other hummingbirds, asserting dominance over feeding resources.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: Allen’s hummingbirds, while still protective of feeding territories, tend to display less aggressive behavior at feeders. They are relatively more tolerant of sharing feeding spaces with other hummingbirds.

Nesting

• Rufous Hummingbird: When it comes to nesting, Rufous hummingbirds typically construct their nests in trees and shrubs. They create delicate, cup-shaped nests using materials such as plant fibers, spider silk, and feathers. Their nesting sites can vary within their diverse habitats.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: Similarly, Allen’s hummingbirds build nests in a variety of shrubs and trees. Their nests also exhibit the cup-like structure common to many hummingbird species.

Migration Timing

• Rufous Hummingbird: Rufous hummingbirds generally migrate south in the late summer and early fall. Their timing aligns with the changing seasons and the availability of food sources during their migratory journey.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: In contrast, Allen’s hummingbirds begin their migratory journey earlier in the summer compared to Rufous hummingbirds. Their migration timing reflects their specific breeding and ecological patterns.

Bill Length

• Rufous Hummingbird: The Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) tends to have a slightly longer bill compared to other hummingbird species.
  This longer bill contributes to their ability to access nectar from deep flowers, allowing them to exploit a wider range of food sources.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: Conversely, Allen’s hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) has a slightly shorter bill compared to the Rufous species. This variation in bill length aligns with their specific feeding preferences and the flowers they frequent.

Bill Shape

• Rufous Hummingbird: The bill of the Rufous hummingbird typically has a straight and slender shape. This bill morphology is adapted for probing into flowers to extract nectar and catch small insects.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: Allen’s hummingbirds have a slightly curved bill. This shape aids in their feeding behavior, which involves sipping nectar from flowers as well as capturing insects.

Voice

• Rufous Hummingbird: Rufous hummingbirds are known for their distinctive vocalizations. They emit a shrill, chattering call that can be easily recognized in their habitats. These calls are often used for communication and territorial displays.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: In contrast, Allen’s hummingbirds have softer, metallic chirping sounds. These calls are different from the more assertive calls of the Rufous species and are adapted to their behavioral and social dynamics.

Tail Pattern

• Rufous Hummingbird: The tail feathers of the Rufous hummingbird usually exhibit a predominantly rufous (reddish-brown) coloration. This tail pattern contributes to the bird’s overall appearance and can be a helpful identification feature.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: Allen’s hummingbirds display a unique tail pattern characterized by a mix of rufous and greenish hues. This distinctive pattern sets them apart from other hummingbird species, including the Rufous hummingbird.

Migration Route

• Rufous Hummingbird: Rufous hummingbirds are known for their coastal migration route. During their long migratory journeys, they follow a path that often leads them along the western coast of North America.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: Allen’s hummingbirds undertake an inland migration route. Their migratory path is distinct from that of Rufous hummingbirds, reflecting their specific breeding and wintering grounds.

Head Markings

• Rufous Hummingbird: The Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) typically lacks distinct markings on its head. The head is often dominated by the vibrant coloration of its throat and back, with minimal contrasting patterns.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: In contrast, Allen’s hummingbirds (Selasphorus sasin) occasionally display a faint line behind the eye, which can appear as a subtle head marking. This slight distinguishing feature contributes to the identification of Allen’s hummingbirds in the field.

Throat Patch

• Rufous Hummingbird: One of the striking features of the Rufous hummingbird is the presence of a white patch behind the eye. This patch contrasts with the vibrant orange-red coloration of its throat, creating a visually captivating effect.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: Allen’s hummingbirds lack a distinct white throat patch. Instead, their throat area is iridescent and varies between shades of green and blue. This difference in throat coloration helps set them apart from the Rufous species.

Back Markings

• Rufous Hummingbird: Rufous hummingbirds have a distinctive back pattern characterized by mottled rufous (reddish-brown) and green hues. This mottled appearance contributes to their camouflage in forested habitats and adds to their overall visual appeal.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: The back markings of Allen’s hummingbirds differ from those of Rufous hummingbirds. They typically have a more uniform greenish-mottled back, without the reddish tones seen in the Rufous species. This variation aids in their identification.

Breeding Areas

• Rufous Hummingbird: Rufous hummingbirds primarily breed in mountainous and forested regions of western North America. Their breeding grounds can encompass a variety of habitats, including montane meadows, subalpine zones, and even urban gardens.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: Allen’s hummingbirds have distinct breeding areas, primarily focusing on coastal and urban regions, especially along the coast of California. Their preference for these specific habitats sets them apart from Rufous hummingbirds in terms of their ecological niche.

Territorial Behavior

• Rufous Hummingbird: Rufous hummingbirds are known for their highly territorial behavior, particularly around food sources such as nectar feeders. They vigorously defend their feeding territories and often engage in aggressive interactions with other hummingbirds.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: Allen’s hummingbirds exhibit territorial behavior as well, but their aggression tends to be less intense compared to Rufous hummingbirds. They are relatively more tolerant of sharing feeding spaces and may engage in fewer aggressive interactions.

Rufous Vs Allen’s Hummingbird: Comparison Table

Hummingbird Feature	Rufous Hummingbird	Allen’s Hummingbird
Tail Feather Shape	R2 feather has a subtle notch at the top	All tail feathers are narrower
Size	Slightly larger	Slightly smaller
Coloration	Bright orange-red on back and throat	Bright orange-red on the back and throat
Chest	White chest with rufous-colored sides	Greenish chest with iridescent throat
Range	Breeds in western North America	Breeds in coastal California
Migration	Long migratory routes, reaching as far as Alaska	Shorter migratory routes, staying mostly in California
Habitat	Variety of habitats, including gardens and forests	Coastal scrub, gardens, and open woodlands
Feeding Behavior	Aggressive at feeders, chases away other hummingbirds	Less aggressive at feeders, more tolerant of others
Nesting	Builds nests in trees and shrubs	Nests in a variety of shrubs and trees
Migration Timing	Migrates south in late summer and early fall	Migrates south earlier in the summer
Bill Length	Longer bill	Slightly shorter bill
Bill Shape	Straight and slender bill	Slightly curved bill
Voice	Shrill and chattering call	Softer, metallic chirps
Tail Pattern	Mostly rufous-colored tail	Rufous and greenish tail
Migration Route	Coastal migration route	Inland migration route
Head Markings	Brilliant green on the back and throat	Sometimes shows a faint line behind the eye
Throat Patch	White patch behind the eye	No distinct white patch
Back Markings	Rufous and green mottled back	Greenish mottled back
Breeding Areas	Mountainous and forested regions	Coastal and urban areas
Territorial Behavior	Highly territorial	Less aggressive in defending territories

Frequently Asked Questions

To Recap

In the intricate world of hummingbirds, the Rufous and Allen’s species showcase the remarkable diversity and adaptability of these delicate creatures.

The subtle nuances in their physical traits, migration routes, vocalizations, and behaviors paint a vivid picture of nature’s ingenuity.

Through understanding the distinctions between these two species, we not only gain insights into their unique ecological roles but also foster a deeper appreciation for the intricacies of the natural world.

As we continue to explore, admire, and protect these enchanting birds, we are reminded of the boundless wonders that the avian realm holds and the importance of preserving their habitats for generations to come.