Anna's Hummingbird vs Blue-fronted Lancebill
Calypte anna compared with Doryfera johannae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Blue-fronted Lancebill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Doryfera johannae |
| 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) | 10.6 cm (4.2 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 4.540000000000001 g (0.16 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of cloud-forest epiphytes and Ericaceae blooms. Catches small arthropods near flowers for additional protein. |
| 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.
Blue-fronted Lancebill
Sharp, high peep followed by rapid twittering; brief introductory note launching into animated cascade of lighter chips.
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-fronted Lancebill
Found in lowland and foothill forests from southern Colombia through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia. Sea level to 1,200 m.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Blue-fronted Lancebill
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-fronted Lancebill
Dot-eared Coquette: males with elongated tufted black crest; glittering blue-green gorget; bronze-green back; females with rufous crown patch
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-fronted Lancebill
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) with a very long, straight bill. Green plumage with a blue-violet forehead. Found in humid montane forests from Venezuela to Bolivia at 600-1,800 m. Nectarivore specializing in long-tubed flowers. Named for its lance-like bill.