Anna's Hummingbird vs Rufous-breasted Sabrewing

Calypte anna compared with Campylopterus hyperythrus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Anna's Hummingbird Rufous-breasted Sabrewing
Scientific Name Calypte anna Campylopterus hyperythrus
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) 12.6 cm (5.0 in)
Weight 4.3 g (0.15 oz) 6.016666666666667 g (0.21 oz)
Diet Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … Nectarivore of tepui cloud forest; feeds at bromeliads and flowering trees. Supplements with insects and …
Clutch Size 2 2
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
Anna's Hummingbird 10.0 cm
Rufous-breasted Sabrewing
Wingspan
Anna's Hummingbird 12.0 cm
Rufous-breasted Sabrewing 12.6 cm
Weight
Anna's Hummingbird 4.3 g
Rufous-breasted Sabrewing 6.016666666666667 g

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Anna's Hummingbird only

Rufous-breasted Sabrewing 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

Song

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.

Rufous-breasted Sabrewing

Song

Melodic, ascending scale of clear notes; bright flute-like tones climbing smoothly in pleasant morning song.

Geographic Range & Migration

Anna's Hummingbird

Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.

Rufous-breasted Sabrewing

Found in montane forests from Venezuela to Bolivia at 1,000-2,500 m elevation. Resident in Andean cloud forest.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Anna's Hummingbird

Least Concern

Rufous-breasted Sabrewing

How to Tell Them Apart

Anna's Hummingbird

Plumage

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.

Bill

Medium-length, straight, thin black bill

Rufous-breasted Sabrewing

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.

Rufous-breasted Sabrewing

A large hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in montane forests from Venezuela to Bolivia at 1,000-2,500 m. Green plumage with a rufous breast. Thickened outer primaries. Nectarivore of cloud forest undergrowth, visiting Heliconia flowers.

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