Anna's Hummingbird vs Versicolored Emerald
Calypte anna compared with Chrysuronia versicolor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Versicolored Emerald |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Chrysuronia versicolor |
| 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) | — |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 3.5599999999999996 g (0.13 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Visits flowering trees and epiphytes for nectar; supplements diet with small arthropods including gnats, midges, … |
| 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.
Versicolored Emerald
Thin, wavering sibilant trill; soft high buzzing with pulsing rhythm during slow courtship hovering display.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Versicolored Emerald
Found in open habitats from Venezuela through Brazil to Argentina. Resident in cerrado, gardens, and forest edges.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Versicolored 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
Versicolored Emerald
Black Coucal: all glossy black; red eye; shorter tail than other coucals; females have rufous wash; sexually dimorphic plumage
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.
Versicolored Emerald
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in open habitats from Venezuela through Brazil to Argentina. Variable green plumage with blue and white tones. Nectarivore of cerrado, gardens, and forest edges. Named for its variable, multicolored plumage.