Allen's Hummingbird ~ Selasphorus sasin

The Allen's Hummingbird is very aggressive in the garden. They will protect their favorite food source from all other hummingbirds. In this case the first one is feeding from Salvia Allen Chickering, and the second, the Lion's Tail, Leonotis leonurus, The third is of Dykia fosteriana and the last Puya venusta. Their wings hum while they fly and there is lots of chatter while they fend off interlopers. The Allen's Hummingbird is a common visitor to feeders (hummingbird feeder recipe). We have a long list of plants that the Allen's Hummingbird will feed upon (see our Hummingbird Garden list). Some of these plants become the center point for a territorial battle between hummingbirds as they vie for feeding rights. The male Allen's Hummingbird has a spectacular ruby throat. The Allen's and Rufous Hummingbirds are harder to distinguish, the Allen's has more green on its back. Attract hummingbirds to your garden.