Anna's Hummingbird vs Long-billed Starthroat
Calypte anna compared with Heliomaster longirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Long-billed Starthroat |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Heliomaster longirostris |
| 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) | 11.7 cm (4.6 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 6.540000000000001 g (0.23 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of lowland and foothill open habitats; visits diverse flowers at forest edges and clearings. … |
| 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.
Long-billed Starthroat
Soft, liquid notes cascading gently; mellow flowing sequence with subtle variation characteristic of Andean forest species.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Long-billed Starthroat
Widespread from southern Mexico through Central America to Bolivia, Brazil, and Trinidad. Prefers open habitats. 0–1,200 m.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Long-billed Starthroat
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
Long-billed Starthroat
Stripe-breasted Starthroat (alt): tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; females plain green above; 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.
Long-billed Starthroat
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in humid forests from southern Mexico to Bolivia and Brazil. Long, slightly decurved bill. Green plumage with a glittering blue-purple throat. Nectarivore of forest canopy and edges. Widespread Neotropical species.