Anna's Hummingbird vs White-vented Violetear
Calypte anna compared with Colibri serrirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | White-vented Violetear |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Colibri serrirostris |
| 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) | 13.6 cm (5.4 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 6.199999999999999 g (0.22 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of highland and lowland forest margins. Feeds on diverse tubular flowers and catches flying … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-2 |
| 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.
White-vented Violetear
Sharp, emphatic squeak repeated quickly; tiny piercing notes delivered insistently during competitive encounters near feeders.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
White-vented Violetear
Found in cerrado, chaco, and open woodland of central and southern Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. 200–1,200 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
White-vented Violetear
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
White-vented Violetear
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.
White-vented Violetear
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) with green plumage, violet ear patches, and a distinctive white vent. Found in cerrado and open habitats of central South America from Brazil to Argentina. Nectarivore of savanna flowers and gardens. An adaptable, widespread species.