Anna's Hummingbird vs Narrow-tailed Emerald
Calypte anna compared with Chlorostilbon stenurus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Narrow-tailed Emerald |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Chlorostilbon stenurus |
| 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) | 8.4 cm (3.3 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 … | Feeds on floral nectar at forest edges in northwestern South America. Supplements diet with 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.
Narrow-tailed Emerald
Melodic, two-note ascending whistle; pure tones stepping upward clearly, given repeatedly near territory boundary.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Narrow-tailed Emerald
Found in Andean highlands from Venezuela to Peru at 800-2,500 m elevation. Resident in montane forest edges.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Narrow-tailed Emerald
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
Narrow-tailed Emerald
White-chinned Sapphire (alt): males with glittering blue gorget; metallic green above; white chin; females green above; spotted below
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.
Narrow-tailed Emerald
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in Andean highlands from Venezuela to Peru at 800-2,500 m. Green plumage with a narrow, slightly forked tail. Nectarivore of forest edges and gardens. Named for its distinctively narrow tail feathers.