Allen's Hummingbird

Allen's Hummingbird
(Selasphorus sasin)
The Allen's Hummingbird often nests in loose colonies and is quite aggressive in defending its nesting territory from other hummingbirds. Territorial battles are most common in early morning, when intruders are more likely to appear. At this time of day, the birds tend to feed around the edges of their territories.

Physical Description
Average weight: male 3.13 g, female 3.24 g. Resident birds are slightly larger than those that migrate.

Plumage
Adult male: Metallic bronze-green head and back, iridescent coppery-red gorget (throat), rufous flanks. Smaller than the female.
Adult female: Rufous back and sides, white breast, white throat with some red spots, rounded tail with white outer tips. Larger than the male. Extremely difficult to differentiate from female Rufous.
Juveniles: Young of both sexes look like the adult female.

Habitat
Coastal chaparral, brushland and edges of redwood forests.

Distribution
Observed in Arizona, coastal California and Channel Islands, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts (Nantucket), Mississippi, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vancouver Island, B.C. Some birds migrate between Baja California and coastal California, while others are year-round California residents.

Allen's Hummingbird Range Map