Allen's Hummingbird
Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)
Name Origin:
Named in honor of Charles Andrew Allen, an American collector active in California during the late 19th century. The genus name Selasphorus comes from the Greek selas (“light” or “flame”) and phoros (“bearing”), meaning “bearing light”—a poetic reflection of the male’s fiery orange plumage.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 7.5–9 cm (3–3.5 in)
⚖️ Weight: 2–4 g (0.07–0.14 oz)
🌎 Range: Breeds along the Pacific coast of the United States; winters primarily in Mexico
🧭 Elevation: Sea level to ~600 m (2,000 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Coastal scrub, chaparral, riparian woodlands, and gardens
🧬 Clade: Mellisugini — “Bees” (Bee Hummingbird tribe)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Subspecies & Distribution
2 subspecies:
S. s. sasin
Distribution: Breeds along the California coast from northern California south to Los Angeles; winters in central and southern Mexico (mainly along the Pacific slope).
S. s. sedentarius
Distribution: Resident year-round on the Channel Islands and adjacent coastal mainland of southern California.
Species Overview
The Allen’s Hummingbird is a fiery jewel of the Pacific coast, admired for its brilliant rufous and orange plumage and spectacular U-shaped dive displays. Males flash vivid iridescent gorgets and buzz over coastal wildflowers in early spring, their agility and speed unmatched among North American hummingbirds. Despite their size, they are fiercely territorial, defending feeding patches and feeders with relentless energy.
Male Description:
The male glows with rufous upperparts, a flaming orange-red gorget, and white underparts with cinnamon flanks. Green highlights may appear on the back and crown. The tail is deeply rufous, and the straight black bill suits precise nectar feeding. His sharp “tik” calls and mechanical dive sounds are signature elements of his courtship display.
Female Description:
Females are green above, with whitish underparts and rufous flanks and tail bases. Their throats are pale, sometimes speckled with orange spots, and tails end in white-tipped outer feathers. Though subtler in color, females are equally bold in defending prime feeding territory.
Habitat & Behavior:
Found in coastal scrub, chaparral, riparian zones, and gardens, this species nests in sheltered shrubs or small trees. It feeds on nectar and small insects, often returning to favorite flower patches in repeated circuits. Migratory populations (S. s. sasin) move south to Mexico for winter, while island populations (S. s. sedentarius) remain year-round residents.
Conservation Note:
Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the Allen’s Hummingbird remains common but faces localized threats from coastal development, habitat loss, and climate-driven changes in flower availability. Conservation of native vegetation and pollinator corridors in California’s coastal ecosystems is essential to preserve its thriving populations—especially the isolated Channel Islands residents.
Below is the Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin sasin)
Photographed in Hemet and at the Huntington Library, California
These individuals belong to the migratory nominate subspecies sasin, which breeds from southwestern Oregon through coastal central California and winters in southwestern Mexico. During migration and winter, it occurs farther inland across southern California where it visits gardens and flowering trees before moving north to breed.
This subspecies is nearly identical in appearance to sedentarius but follows a strongly migratory pattern. Males display the same iridescent orange-red throat, rufous body, and green back. Females are lightly washed with rufous on the flanks and tail.
Checkout Anthony’s playlist of this species! Click the top right dropdown to see all the videos.
Below is the Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin sedentarius)
Photographed in San Juan Capistrano
These individuals belong to the subspecies sedentarius, the largely resident coastal form of Allen’s Hummingbird found from the Palos Verdes Peninsula south through Orange County and nearby coastal areas. This population breeds year-round and is common in coastal gardens, canyon edges, and native shrubland with abundant flowering plants.
Males show a bright copper-orange gorget, rufous flanks, and green upperparts, while females are greener overall with pale underparts and limited orange in the tail. This subspecies remains year-round in its coastal range, often defending territories around flowering hedges and feeders even outside the breeding season.
