Anna's Hummingbird vs Turquoise-throated Puffleg
Calypte anna compared with Eriocnemis godini
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Turquoise-throated Puffleg |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Eriocnemis godini |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
| Length | 10.0 cm (3.9 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 12.0 cm (4.7 in) | 11.8 cm (4.6 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 5.06 g (0.18 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of Colombian cloud forest; extremely restricted range. Forages at Ericaceae; supplements with small arthropods. |
| 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.
Turquoise-throated Puffleg
Soft, pure whistle with melodic inflection; gentle ascending note curving smoothly upward, rarely documented vocally.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Turquoise-throated Puffleg
Historically known from Ecuador and possibly Colombia; possibly extinct or near-extinct. Last confirmed records from Imbabura at 2,400–2,800 m.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Turquoise-throated Puffleg
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
Turquoise-throated Puffleg
Violet-chested Hummingbird: males with glittering deep purple gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females 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.
Turquoise-throated Puffleg
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) known only from historical specimens collected in the 19th century in Colombia or Ecuador. No confirmed modern records. Classified as Critically Endangered, possibly extinct. Turquoise throat (specimens) distinguishes it from other pufflegs.