Anna's Hummingbird vs Blue-throated Starfrontlet
Calypte anna compared with Coeligena helianthea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Blue-throated Starfrontlet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Coeligena helianthea |
| 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) | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 6.775 g (0.24 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of Venezuelan Andean cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Brachyotum. Catches small arthropods near … |
| Clutch Size | 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.
Blue-throated Starfrontlet
Melodic, ascending scale of clear notes; bright flute-like tones climbing smoothly in morning territorial singing.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Blue-throated Starfrontlet
Found in cloud forests of the eastern and central Andes of Colombia and adjacent Venezuela. 2,000–3,000 m.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Blue-throated Starfrontlet
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
Blue-throated Starfrontlet
Blue-mantled Thornbill: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; blue-metallic mantle; metallic green above; females pale 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.
Blue-throated Starfrontlet
A medium-sized hummingbird (14-15 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Colombia at 1,800-3,000 m. Males have a glittering blue throat and iridescent violet-blue forehead. Nectarivore of montane forest and forest edges. One of the most colorful incas.