Anna's Hummingbird vs Common Kingfisher
Calypte anna compared with Alcedo atthis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Common Kingfisher |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Alcedo atthis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Alcedinidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 10.0 cm (3.9 in) | 17.0 cm (6.7 in) |
| Wingspan | 12.0 cm (4.7 in) | 25.0 cm (9.8 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 36.0 g (1.27 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. Hunts from a low perch over water, diving headfirst … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 3-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Anna's Hummingbird only
None
Common Kingfisher only
Anna's Hummingbird
Chaparral, coastal sage scrub, gardens, parks, and open woodland along the Pacific coast. One of few hummingbirds not fully migratory.
Common Kingfisher
Clear, slow-flowing rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds with suitable perching and nesting banks. Requires clean water with good fish populations.
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.
Common Kingfisher
A sharp, penetrating 'chee' whistle given in flight, often the first indication of its presence. Short, shrill single note as it darts low over rivers. Contact call is a rippling …
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Common Kingfisher
Widespread across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Northern populations migrate south in winter.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Common Kingfisher
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
Common Kingfisher
Brilliant electric blue upperparts and orange underparts. Blue-green crown with darker barring. White throat patch and cheek spots. A flash of blue in flight.
Long, straight, dagger-like dark bill — orange base on the lower mandible in females
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.
Common Kingfisher
The common kingfisher is a dazzling jewel of waterways, its iridescent blue plumage caused by light refraction in the feather structure rather than pigment. These birds inspired the design of the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan — the shape of their bill was copied to reduce sonic booms when trains exit tunnels.