Anna's Hummingbird vs Costa's Hummingbird
Calypte anna compared with Calypte costae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Costa's Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Calypte costae |
| 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) | 8.9 cm (3.5 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 3.4000000000000004 g (0.12 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of Mojave Desert scrub, favouring desert lavender and sage. Supplements nectar with insects and … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Anna's Hummingbird only
None
Costa'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.
Costa's Hummingbird
Melodic, flute-like ascending scale; smooth bright notes climbing steadily in cheerful morning territorial delivery.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Costa's Hummingbird
Found in arid western North America from California to Mexico. Breeds in desert scrub; some populations resident year-round.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Costa's 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
Costa's Hummingbird
Crowned Woodnymph: males with brilliant iridescent violet crown; glittering green gorget; metallic green above; 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.
Costa's Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) of arid western North America from California to Mexico. Males have a brilliant iridescent purple crown and gorget that extends along the sides of the neck. Nectarivore of desert scrub and gardens. Thrives in extreme desert heat.