Selasphorus sasin sasin (Allen’s Hummingbird)
Photo by m.shattock, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
about the species
Selasphorus sasin sasin, the migratory subspecies of Allen’s hummingbird, breeds along the California coast and winters primarily in Mexico. It occupies coastal scrub, riparian corridors, and urban gardens, relying on nectar resources and insects. This subspecies is notable for its restricted breeding range and partial overlap with a non-migratory subspecies in southern California, making it an important system for studying migration and population differentiation in California birds.
why species was selected
Allen’s hummingbird was selected because of its migratory behavior, restricted breeding range, and subspecies differentiation. Genomic data can clarify population structure, migratory connectivity, and divergence between migratory and resident lineages, informing conservation of coastal habitats and migratory bird populations in California.
