Anna's Hummingbird vs Buff-tailed Coronet
Calypte anna compared with Boissonneaua flavescens
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Buff-tailed Coronet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Boissonneaua flavescens |
| 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) | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 8.033333333333333 g (0.28 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of Andean cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and Fuchsia blooms. Aggressively defends territories; gleans small … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
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.
Buff-tailed Coronet
Soft, pure descending whistle; gentle note curving downward smoothly, warm and musical in cloud forest quiet.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Buff-tailed Coronet
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to Bolivia. 1,600–3,000 m.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Buff-tailed Coronet
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
Buff-tailed Coronet
White-bearded Helmetcrest: males with glittering blue-violet gorget; metallic green; white beard; white leg puffs; females plain green
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.
Buff-tailed Coronet
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Peru at 1,500-3,000 m. Green plumage with a buff-orange tail. Nectarivore of montane forest and edges. Named coronet for the green iridescence on the crown.