Anna's Hummingbird vs Green Thorntail
Calypte anna compared with Discosura conversii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Green Thorntail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Discosura conversii |
| 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) | 3.0 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore visiting small flowers at forest canopy and edges. Forages in groups at flowering trees; … |
| 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.
Green Thorntail
Pure, sustaining tone with bell-like quality; single clear note ringing firmly then slowly diminishing in open air.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Green Thorntail
Found in foothill and lower montane forest from Costa Rica south through Colombia and Ecuador to Peru. 300–1,500 m.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Green Thorntail
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
Green Thorntail
Purple-backed Sunbeam: males with glittering emerald gorget; brilliant purple back; metallic green crown; females plain green with spots
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.
Green Thorntail
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) with a long, wire-like tail extending to 10 cm total in males. Brilliant green plumage with white rump band. Found in humid forests from Costa Rica to western Ecuador. Nectarivore of forest canopy, hovering at tiny flowers. Fairy-like flight.