Anna's Hummingbird vs Rufous-shafted Woodstar

Calypte anna compared with Chaetocercus jourdanii

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Anna's Hummingbird Rufous-shafted Woodstar
Scientific Name Calypte anna Chaetocercus jourdanii
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) 7.0 cm (2.8 in)
Weight 4.3 g (0.15 oz) 3.26 g (0.11 oz)
Diet Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … Nectarivore of Trinidad and northern South America, hovering at bromeliads and Heliconia. Supplements diet with …
Clutch Size 2 2
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Anna's Hummingbird 10.0 cm
Rufous-shafted Woodstar
Wingspan
Anna's Hummingbird 12.0 cm
Rufous-shafted Woodstar 7.0 cm
Weight
Anna's Hummingbird 4.3 g
Rufous-shafted Woodstar 3.26 g
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Anna's Hummingbird only

Rufous-shafted Woodstar only

Anna's Hummingbird

Chaparral, coastal sage scrub, gardens, parks, and open woodland along the Pacific coast. One of few hummingbirds not fully migratory.

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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-shafted Woodstar

Song

Deep, resonant single note with striking boldness; powerful tone ringing out clearly from exposed prominent perch.

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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-shafted Woodstar

Found in Andean highlands from Venezuela to Trinidad at 500-2,500 m elevation. Resident in montane forest edges and gardens.

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Anna's Hummingbird

Least Concern

Rufous-shafted Woodstar

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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-shafted Woodstar

Plumage

Calliope Hummingbird (endemic): tiny; males with glittering magenta gorget; metallic green above; females plain green above; spotted

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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-shafted Woodstar

A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) found in Andean highlands from Venezuela to Trinidad at 500-2,500 m. Males have rufous wing-shafts visible in flight and a purple gorget. Nectarivore of forest edges, gardens, and open country. Named after its rufous wing feather shafts.

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Related Comparisons

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