Anna's Hummingbird vs Black-chinned Hummingbird
Calypte anna compared with Archilochus alexandri
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Black-chinned Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Archilochus alexandri |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 10.0 cm (3.9 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 12.0 cm (4.7 in) | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 3.6399999999999997 g (0.13 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Generalist nectarivore visiting a wide variety of western North American flowers. Gleans insects and spiders … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Anna's Hummingbird only
Anna's Hummingbird
Chaparral, coastal sage scrub, gardens, parks, and open woodland along the Pacific coast. One of few hummingbirds not fully migratory.
Song & Call Comparison
Anna's Hummingbird
Male produces a complex, scratchy song with buzzy 'dzzzzt' notes. Gives a nasal 'chee-chee-chee'. Males sing year-round, even in winter; one of few hummingbirds with true song.
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Rapid, animated twittering with bright quality; light staccato notes cascading freely in cheerful sequence.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Found in western North America from British Columbia to Mexico. Breeds in open woodland; winters in western Mexico.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Anna's Hummingbird
Metallic bronze-green upperparts. Males have an iridescent rose-red crown and gorget. Females have green upperparts with grey underparts and a small red gorget patch.
Medium-length, straight, thin black bill
Black-chinned Hummingbird
White-eared Hummingbird: males with brilliant violet-blue gorget; metallic green above; white postocular stripe; females green; spotted
About These Birds
Anna's Hummingbird
Anna's hummingbird is the most common hummingbird along the Pacific coast and one of only three species resident in the United States year-round. Males perform spectacular dive displays, plummeting from 40 meters and pulling up with a loud chirp produced by tail feathers. Their body temperature can drop to near ambient at night to conserve energy.
Black-chinned Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in western North America from British Columbia to Mexico. Males have a black chin with iridescent purple border. Nectarivore of open woodland, gardens, and desert oases. Common at feeders across the western US during breeding season.