Selasphorus sasin

(Lesson, 1829)

Allen's Hummingbird

G5Secure Found in 223 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin). Photo by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Public Domain (U.S. Government Work), via ECOS.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103447
Element CodeABNUC51030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
CITESAppendix II
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations, but breeds in a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderApodiformes
FamilyTrochilidae
GenusSelasphorus
Other Common Names
Colibri d'Allen (FR) Zumbador de Allen (ES)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Constitutes a superspecies with S. rufus (AOU 1983).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2015-05-31
Change Date1996-12-02
Edition Date2015-05-31
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of OccurrencesUnknown
Rank Reasons
Relatively small breeding range in coastal and southern California and southwestern Oregon; restricted winter range mostly in Mexico; large population size; still widespread and relatively common in historical range, and has expanded range in southern California; no major threats; commonly uses altered habitats and urbanized areas with cultivated flowering plants.
Range Extent Comments
Breeding range extends from southwestern Oregon southward through all of coastal southern California (and recently expanding inland), including several of the Channel Islands where the species is resident (AOU 1998, Clark and Mitchell 2013). Winter range is mostly in central Mexico south to Distrito Federal, perhaps north to Aguascalientes and Guanajuato; the species also occurs casually along the Gulf Coast in southeastern Texas, southern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia (AOU 1998). The percentage of the population that winters in central Mexico is unclear, as is the whereabouts of the remaining wintering population (Phillips 1975). Migrants pass through southern Califomia and northern Baja California (including Los Coronados and Cedros islands), most of northwestern and north-central Mexico, and range east, at least casually, to southern Arizona and southern New Mexico (AOU 1998).
Occurrences Comments
The number of distinct occurrences or subpopulations has not been determined using standardized criteria, but this species is represented by a very large number of observation/collection sites (e.g., see GBIF database, eBird) and locations (as defined by IUCN).
Threat Impact Comments
Some habitat has been lost to intensive development, but in many other areas habitat changes (especially addition of nectar-producing ornamental plants, as well as feeders) associated with residential and urban development have increased hummingbird food resources beyond natural levels, and Allen's hummingbird readily breeds in such disturbed habitats, including urban parks or eucalyptus groves (Clark and Mitchell 2013).

This species may be flexible enough to adjust to drought and other potentially deleterious aspects of climate change. For example, migration timing varies annually, depending on the timing of winter rains, which influences nectar availability; drought can delay migration by 10-14 days (Clark and Mitchell 2013).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Habitat includes chaparral, thickets, open oak woodland, mixed evergreen forest, coniferous forest, riparian woodland, ravines and canyons, planted stands of eucalyptus or cypress, residential areas; in migration and winter, also in montane woodland and in open situations with flowering shrubs (AOU 1983, 1998; Clark and Mitchell 2013). Nests are on on twigs or forks of trees or shrubs, sometimes on stalks of plant, among in vines, occasionally in buildings. In one area, these hummingbirds nested in live oaks, usually 2-4 meters above ground; in another study, they nested mostly in eucalyptus at an average height of 5.5 meters.

Ecology

Defends feeding territory (small, numerous, often contested) and mating territory (larger, more formally defined). May compete for resources with Anna's hummingbird (CALYPTE ANNA) during breeding season.

Reproduction

In central California, males establish territory mid-Febryary to late March, nesting over usually by mid-July. Clutch size 2. Incubation reportedly 15-17 or 17-22 days, by female. Young tended by female, fledge in about 22 days. Two broods/year in central California.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - MixedForest EdgeWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferShrubland/chaparralSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5B
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
OregonS3Yes
LouisianaS2NYes
ArizonaS2MYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
No known threats

Roadless Areas (223)
California (212)
AreaForestAcres
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
Black ButteMendocino National Forest15,461
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Black ButteMendocino National Forest15,461
Black MountainLos Padres National Forest16,818
Black MountainLos Padres National Forest16,818
Blue Creek Rare ISix Rivers National Forest12,134
Blue Creek Rare ISix Rivers National Forest12,134
Board CampSix Rivers National Forest4,527
Board CampSix Rivers National Forest4,527
Bonanza KingShasta-Trinity National Forest16,402
Bonanza KingShasta-Trinity National Forest16,402
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
CalienteCleveland National Forest5,953
CalienteCleveland National Forest5,953
CamuesaLos Padres National Forest8,209
CamuesaLos Padres National Forest8,209
CamuesaLos Padres National Forest8,209
Chalk PeakLos Padres National Forest7,472
Chalk PeakLos Padres National Forest7,472
ChanchelullaShasta-Trinity National Forest3,915
ChanchelullaShasta-Trinity National Forest3,915
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
Cow CreekSix Rivers National Forest1,271
Cow CreekShasta-Trinity National Forest22,627
Cow CreekShasta-Trinity National Forest22,627
Cow CreekSix Rivers National Forest1,271
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
CuyamaLos Padres National Forest19,631
CuyamaLos Padres National Forest19,631
De La GuerraLos Padres National Forest5,418
De La GuerraLos Padres National Forest5,418
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
DiableLos Padres National Forest19,597
DiableLos Padres National Forest19,597
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
EagleShasta-Trinity National Forest6,553
EagleShasta-Trinity National Forest6,553
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Fisher Gulch BShasta-Trinity National Forest4,791
Fisher Gulch BShasta-Trinity National Forest4,791
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
GrindstoneMendocino National Forest26,031
GrindstoneMendocino National Forest26,031
GrindstoneMendocino National Forest26,031
Horseshoe SpringsLos Padres National Forest14,089
Horseshoe SpringsLos Padres National Forest14,089
JuncalLos Padres National Forest12,289
JuncalLos Padres National Forest12,289
KellySix Rivers National Forest5,195
KellySix Rivers National Forest5,195
La PanzaLos Padres National Forest4,954
La PanzaLos Padres National Forest4,954
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
Little French CShasta-Trinity National Forest11,529
Little French CShasta-Trinity National Forest11,529
Little PineLos Padres National Forest1,315
Little PineLos Padres National Forest1,315
Lpoor CanyonLos Padres National Forest13,762
Lpoor CanyonLos Padres National Forest13,762
Machesna MountainLos Padres National Forest12,271
Machesna MountainLos Padres National Forest12,271
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
Monkey CreekSix Rivers National Forest9,017
Monkey CreekSix Rivers National Forest9,017
MonoLos Padres National Forest28,141
MonoLos Padres National Forest28,141
MonoLos Padres National Forest28,141
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
North Fork SmithSix Rivers National Forest37,898
North Fork SmithSix Rivers National Forest37,898
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
Orleans Mtn.Shasta-Trinity National Forest57
Orleans Mtn.Shasta-Trinity National Forest57
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
Orleans Mtn. BSix Rivers National Forest17,183
Orleans Mtn. BSix Rivers National Forest17,183
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
PacksaddleSix Rivers National Forest3,862
PacksaddleSix Rivers National Forest3,862
PattisonShasta-Trinity National Forest29,299
PattisonShasta-Trinity National Forest29,299
Pilot CreekSix Rivers National Forest9,192
Pilot CreekSix Rivers National Forest9,192
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
Red MountainAngeles National Forest8,034
Red MountainAngeles National Forest8,034
Red MountainAngeles National Forest8,034
Salt GulchShasta-Trinity National Forest6,511
Salt GulchShasta-Trinity National Forest6,511
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
Sespe - FrazierAngeles National Forest4,254
Sespe - FrazierAngeles National Forest4,254
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
Ship MountainSix Rivers National Forest11,936
Ship MountainSix Rivers National Forest11,936
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
SiskiyouKlamath National Forest54,039
SiskiyouKlamath National Forest54,039
Siskiyou BSix Rivers National Forest18,871
Siskiyou BSix Rivers National Forest18,871
Slide CreekSix Rivers National Forest11,458
Slide CreekSix Rivers National Forest11,458
SoliderSix Rivers National Forest14,918
SoliderSix Rivers National Forest14,918
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
Tepusquet PeakLos Padres National Forest5,821
Tepusquet PeakLos Padres National Forest5,821
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
ThatcherMendocino National Forest16,652
ThatcherMendocino National Forest16,652
Thomes CreekMendocino National Forest16,616
Thomes CreekMendocino National Forest16,616
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
TuleAngeles National Forest9,861
TuleAngeles National Forest9,861
UnderwoodSix Rivers National Forest6,591
UnderwoodSix Rivers National Forest6,591
Weaver BallyShasta-Trinity National Forest829
Weaver BallyShasta-Trinity National Forest829
Wells MountainShasta-Trinity National Forest5,919
Wells MountainShasta-Trinity National Forest5,919
West ForkAngeles National Forest1,169
West ForkAngeles National Forest1,169
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
Wilderness ContiguousMendocino National Forest3,606
WildhorseCleveland National Forest1,483
WildhorseCleveland National Forest1,483
WildhorseCleveland National Forest1,483
New Mexico (1)
AreaForestAcres
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
Oregon (8)
AreaForestAcres
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
References (21)
  1. Aldrich, E.C. 1945. Nesting of the Allen Hummingbird. Con- dor. 47:137-48.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  3. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
  4. Baltosser, W. H., and P. E. Scott. 1996. Costa's Hummingbird (<i>Calypte costae</i>). No. 251 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors, The birds of North America. The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The Amerian Ornithologists' Union, Washington, DC. 32pp.
  5. BirdLife International. 2004b. Threatened birds of the world 2004. CD ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
  6. Bleiweiss, R., J. A. W. Kirsch, and J. C. Matheus. 1994. DNA-DNA hybridization evidence for subfamily structure among hummingbirds. Auk 111:8-19.
  7. Carter, M., C. Hunter, D. Pashley, and D. Petit. 1998. The Watch List. Bird Conservation, Summer 1998:10.
  8. Carter, M., G. Fenwick, C. Hunter, D. Pashley, D. Petit, J. Price, and J. Trapp. 1996. Watchlist 1996: For the future. Field Notes 50(3):238-240.
  9. Clark, C. J., and D. E. Mitchell. 2013. Allen's hummingbird (<i>Selasphorus sasin</i>). The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, editor). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/501.
  10. Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
  11. Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb. 1995. A guide to the birds of Mexico and northern Central America. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
  12. Johnsgard, P. A. 1983c. Hummingbirds of North America. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 304 pp.
  13. Montgomerie, R. D. 1979. Energetics of foraging and competition in some tropcial hummingbirds. Ph.D. dissertation, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
  14. Parker III, T. A., D. F. Stotz, and J. W. Fitzpatrick. 1996. Ecological and distributional databases for neotropical birds. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
  15. Phillips, A. R. 1975. The migrations of Allen's and other hummingbirds. Condor 77:196-205.
  16. Poole, A. F. and F. B. Gill. 1992. The birds of North America. The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. and The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA.
  17. Powers, D. R., and S. M. Wethington. 1999. Broad-billed Hummingbird (<i>Cynanthus latirostris</i>). No. 430 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 20pp.
  18. Sibley, D. A. 2000a. The Sibley guide to birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  19. Small, A. 1974. The birds of California. Collier Books, New York. 310 pp.
  20. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  21. Williamson, S. L. 2000. Blue-throated hummingbird (<i>Lampornis clemenciae</i>). No. 531 in A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 16pp.