Allen's Hummingbird - Selasphorus sasin

by James K. Sayre

This is a small colorful hummingbird that breeds in the coastal region of California and into coastal southern Oregon. It also lives on the Santa Barbara Islands, which lie off the coast of Santa Barbara County. It winters in the western half of Mexico, although some of the Allen's Hummingbirds found in Southern California remain there all year round. There are also some non-migrating Allen's Hummingbirds that live in the Santa Barbara Islands.

The male Allen's Hummingbird has a greenish back, a buff breast and sports a brilliant red throat, while the female has a white throat. For prime habitat, the Allen's Hummingbird enjoys coastal chaparral, brushland, parks and gardens. It also favors eucalyptus trees and the edges of redwood groves. The Allen's Hummingbird feeds on flower nectar and small insects and spiders.

The etymology of 'hummingbird": [humming Middle English hommen, hummen, of echolc origin + ing Old English -ing, ung, suffix + bird Middle English bird, brid, Old English bridd, bird, young bird, from the sound bird's wings make during flight][Sayre].

Human fragmentation and outright destruction of the Allen's Hummingbird's natural habitats by continuing construction of more houses, more malls, more condos, more roads, more parking lots and offices and development is the biggest threat to this bird's continued existence.

The Allen's Hummingbird was recently placed on a national watch list of environmental and habitat concern by the National Audubon Society (www.audubon.org) and the American Bird Conservancy (www.abcbird.org). Two other web sites with useful information about the Allen's Hummingbird are www.birdinfo.cm and www.birdzilla.com.

References:

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End.

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Web page last updated on 20 December 2007.