# Allen's Hummingbird (*Selasphorus sasin*) Allen's Hummingbird is a tiny bird with bright green and orange feathers. They are known for their amazing flying skills and can hover in one spot while sipping nectar from flowers. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Allen's Hummingbird](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Allen's_Hummingbird_%28Selasphorus_sasin%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Steve Berardi, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Allen's_Hummingbird_%28Selasphorus_sasin%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Allen's Hummingbird is a small bird with an iridescent green back and rufous (reddish-brown) flanks. Males boast a striking fiery orange-red throat gorget that shimmers in sunlight, while females have a mostly white throat with dark spots. Its relatively short tail is rufous with a black tip. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Apodiformes - **Family:** Trochilidae - **Genus:** Selasphorus ## Interesting facts - Allen's Hummingbirds can hibernate in a deep sleep called torpor! - Their heart can beat over 1,200 times per minute when flying! - These brave little birds will fiercely defend their favorite flowers. - They beat their tiny wings so fast, you can only see a blur! ## Special abilities - **Aerial AcrobaT:** Allen's Hummingbird can fly backward and hover perfectly still because of its unique wing structure that allows incredible maneuverability. - **Energy Dynamo:** Allen's Hummingbird has an extremely fast metabolism that helps them burn energy quickly, requiring constant feeding to survive. - **Nectar SiphoN:** Allen's Hummingbird has a long, grooved tongue that helps them rapidly lap up sweet nectar from deep inside flowers. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 8-9 cm - **Wingspan:** 10.5-11.5 cm - **Weight:** 0.002-0.004 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-5 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2 - **Incubation:** 16-18 days - **Migration Distance:** 1500 km ## Diet & Feeding They sip sweet flower nectar and snatch tiny insects for energy and protein. - **Primary Foods:** Flower nectar, Small flies, Gnats, Spiders, Aphids - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Flowering Currant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/flowering-currant) (*Ribes sanguineum*) — Helps spread pollen between their favorite red flowers. - **Eats:** [Fruit Fly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fruit-fly) (*Drosophila melanogaster*) — Snaps up tiny flies for essential protein. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Vulnerable to hunting by outdoor domestic cats. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching hummingbirds from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Allen's Hummingbird? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Allen's Hummingbird? 8-9 cm ### What is Allen's Hummingbird's wingspan? 10.5-11.5 cm ### How much does Allen's Hummingbird weigh? 0.002-0.004 kg ### How long does Allen's Hummingbird live? 3-5 years ### How fast can Allen's Hummingbird move? 60 km/h ### What does Allen's Hummingbird eat? They sip sweet flower nectar and snatch tiny insects for energy and protein. ### Where is Allen's Hummingbird usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Regional Parks Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/regional-parks-botanic-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Balboa Park Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/balboa-park-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Crossroads of the World](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crossroads-of-the-world) — California, US · Historic District - [El Prado Complex](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-prado-complex) — California, US · Historic Site - [Gaslamp Quarter](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gaslamp-quarter) — California, US · Neighborhood - [San Francisco Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-francisco-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Allen's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/allens-hummingbird) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Allen's Hummingbird: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/allens-hummingbird)